Happy Friday, everyone! One more profile this week, and it’s for another artist and album that should be on your listening list today. Edensong, the New York City-based progressive rock collective, just released Our Road To Dust through The Lasers Edge. But progressive feels a bit like a cop-out when describing the sound Edensong have crafted here. It’s genre-bending and blending for sure, as it wanders from one thought-provoking passage to another. It’s quite a rewarding listen. So to unpack the story behind it further, drummer Nick DiGregorio responded to our Profile questions. Give that a read after the jump, and be sure to explore their Bandcamp page and peak a few lyric videos as you go. Enjoy!

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

I was introduced to music at a very young age as my father is a guitar player (not professionally) with roots in both Classical and Jazz music. I started taking private drum lessons around 5 years old. To help make ends meet, my father gave private guitar lessons as a side gig to various kids around the neighborhood. One of those kids was a teenager who happened to live down the block and loved heavy music. I can’t remember his name, but for the sake of this interview we’ll call him Metal Dave. At that time (late 80’s/early 90’s) Guns N’ Roses were killing it and Metallica had just released “The Black Album”. Metal Dave would come over for guitar lessons and play Metallica for my dad, asking him “how do I play this (insert “Four Horseman” main riff here)”. After a couple lessons Metal Dave decided to seek tutelage elsewhere, but not before bestowing a copy of “Kill ‘Em All” upon my brother and me. From that moment on, my parents (especially my dad) did not understand metal music but were happy I was into something creative. My dad appreciated the technical prowess of guys like Kirk Hammet and Dave Mustaine, but in his house Joe Pass, Pat Metheny and Wes Montgomery were supreme. All hail Metal Dave. I hope he is shredding away wherever he is.

James, Ben and the original drummer Tony started Edensong under the name Echoes of Eden back in high school. Tony lived around the corner from me and after school we would hang out, play drums and listen to music. I introduced them all to Dream Theater after seeing Mike Portnoy live at a drum clinic. Hearing “Change of Seasons” was a game changer for all of us, but those guys took it a step further and formed what would later become Edensong.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

It doesn’t fit a mold. Sure, it’s progressive and heavy at times. It spans different genres, but all good music has these types of elements. I guess the easiest way to describe the band to a newcomer would be: Edensong sounds like the soundtrack to “Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” if it was written by Ian Anderson after he fell into the same vat of acid as Jack Nicholson’s Joker and then formed a band with the sole intention of scoring music for one of the best videogames of all time.

Is there one thing about your latest album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

The album was written while we still had a koto player as an active member of the band. If you don’t know what a koto is, please check it out. It’s essentially a Harp you play on the floor, a wild instrument capable of very cool sounds played in a unique manner that defies logic. The koto certainly helped shape some of the songs on “Our Road to Dust”. In addition to that, the cover of the new record is also something not yet discussed in any interview. The cover features a map, derived from real world locations significant to the history band. They are all pieced together to create a fictitious continent.  

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

When we toured the UK, the biggest topic on everyone’s mind besides fish and chips was driving on the opposite side of the road. For someone from the states, it’s a tricky situation that takes the utmost mental focus. T.D handled most of the driving and would constantly drift to the left side of the road. I remember having to say, “you’re drifting” or “you’re close to the curb” or “too much to the left”. I was even mumbling this in my sleep as we drove at night between shows. We certainly put that rental van through some rough times. After the tour was over, we returned to the airport to drop off the van under the cover of night. We were all very tense as there was clear damage from the road (made worse by the fact it was broken into the previous night in the middle of London). Luckily the inspection passed and boarded the plane home with a clear conscience.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

One of the great things I see happening, especially when going to shows, is parents allowing their kids to be introduced to this type of music. I recently saw Meshuggah (with Cannibal Corpse and Carcass) and it was very cool to see parents with their kids rocking out. I think parents nowadays get it, and have been getting it, as opposed to when I was growing up. Unfortunately, while metal music as a genre is quite far reaching, there still exists these factions that will judge a band that doesn’t fit their specific idea of what metal music should be. I recently went down the Reddit rabbit hole about Ulcerate’s new album. So many posts were all about “this is not death metal” and “why is this labeled blah blah blah”. The album kicks ass, it’s heavy and musical and fun to listen to. Who gives a fuck if its death metal or not it’s awesome! Metal heads should be uniting over this shit!

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

Edensong has never really been a political band. The songs are often introspective and conceptual, more about the human experience and the cycle of life than political forces. We may get together in rehearsal and briefly gripe about the often frightening state of the world, but making music is how we escape and cope with all that. We may individually have our causes, but we’re not really out here to further divide. I’m not sure that would do much good.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share? 

Our day jobs vary across the band. Industries include healthcare, IT, software as well as teaching and mentorship. Having a day job makes playing music, in my mind, much more satisfying. Having this creative outlet is a stress reliever (sometimes stress inducer!) so to be able to leave your last work meeting and rock out with your buddies is a special thing. Plus someone has to pay for pizza and studio time! Regarding hobbies, I love collecting comic books and graphic novels. Some of my favorite stories right now are “8 Billion Genies”, “Lucky Devils”, and the new “Absolute Batman”. I also like non-superhero stuff like “Damnation Diaries”. That is an amazing book with a unique perspective on Hell and all things underworld.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

I had a great time with this interview and the overall approach. The questions geared towards the hard-working musician, who is a real person with a day job trying to keep his/her metal spirit alive is exactly what is needed! I love hearing about the people behind the music, and how they make it happen. More of this!  

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

This time around, with this album especially, there is a feeling of “yes this is the core Edensong lineup”. Our long-term goal is to remain steadfast as a quartet while holding true to our progressive metal ways.  

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

Ulcerate – “Cutting the Throat of God”
Blood Incantation – “Absolute Elsewhere”
GoGo Penguin – Any album by GoGo Penguin
Hubris – “Apocryphal Gravity”
Meshuggah – “Immutable”
Plini – “Impulse Voices”
Between The Buried and Me – “Colors II”
Entheos – “An End to Everything”

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

Canada here we come! We are returning to the always welcoming and always awesome city of Quebec for the Terra Incognita Festival. Outside of that show, the future remains bright as we will continue to travel Our Road to Dust™.

Summarize your band in one word.

Bountiful.

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Many thanks to Nick and Edensong for the time!

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Our Road To Dust is out now through The Lasers Edge. For more information on Edensong, get everything you need right here.