EDGELAND – Tunnels (2025)

Despite founded in 1993, “Tunnels” is the second full album from Swedish melodic metal trio EDGELAND. All members are seasoned musicians having worked with other artists / projects, but their passion is EDGELAND, and create uncompromising heavy-rock music, without record labels involved.

Then, “Tunnels” is independent / self-released. But forget that this fact may have affected quality – this album is awesomely produced, and sounds great. Musically, EDGELAND is both melodic and heavy, quite often reminding me of Erik Mårtensson’s ECLIPSE or the fantastic DYNAZTY.
With its dark cover, deep lyrics into the unknown and ghosty universes, “Tunnels” takes you to other universe that will get you spin for days. Pounding drums, heavy guitar riffs, bass ripping, and hard hitting vocals. Edgeland have that Metal image with the dark side of the soul, while the music is a peaceful medicine for your heart. Metalheads to the bones, they have the recipe to bring brilliant music in this genre, with melodies and a hard hitting powerful sound.

The opening one-two punch of The Release and Crimson Coronation hammers some fantastic riffs and choruses in your brain, a showcase of the band’s talent and inspiration. Valley Of Kings is very epic, dark, almost progressive, building up to a beautiful instrumental finale.
Desolate Road and The Closing Day add a further portion of groovy guitars and a stadium-ready attitude. These guys know what a good song requires and when they grab your attention they never let go. The know how to rock and yet there are so many subtle nuances and layers in their music.
Final Breath is another mini-epic with a very emotional charge. Edgeland don’t miss the opportunity to serve one more tremendous chorus here, as well as a rewarding guitar solo.

River Black, much like Desolate Road, is more straightforward, basic heavy rock, hitting you in the gut with some of the heaviest guitars so far. The album concludes with the atmospheric, almost instrumental …and The Shadows That Followed, probably the most melancholic and gloomy of the bunch, which works perfectly as an outro.

It’s quite a mystery why Edgeland isn’t most well known yet, because their music and passion deserves so much more attention. If you like great melodies upon a power-chord foundation and earworm choruses, then look no further than ”Tunnels”. It’s an album of infectious inspiration that will find a way to both your minds and hearts.
Highly Recommended

01 – The Release
02 – Crimson Coronation
03 – Valley of Kings
04 – Desolate Road
05 – The closing Day
06 – Final Breath
07 – River Black
08 – … and the shadows that followed

Jimmy Karlsson – Vocals, Bass
Magnus Blixt – Drums
Niklas Eriksson – Guitars

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