Los Angeles based cinematic hard rockers EDGE OF PARADISE—who have made waves in the heavy music scene with acclaimed albums like Universe (2019), The Unknown (2021) and Hologram (2023), as well as tours with the likes of Lacuna Coil, DragonForce, and Amaranthe—is pleased to unveil their sixth studio album, and first with Napalm Records, Prophecy.
On Prophecy, EDGE OF PARADISE rage against the existential crisis of what is commonly known as “The Singularity,” the prophesied moment in time in which humanity loses control of artificial intelligence, leading to potentially cataclysmic shifts to life as we know it. Frontwoman, keyboardist, and powerhouse vocalist Margarita Monet tells us her biggest influences and Edge of Paradise’s essential songs to hear.
INFLUENCES
Clint Mansel: “Lux Aeterna” (Requiem for a Dream)
Overall, subconsciously, I’m influenced by classical music and movie soundtracks, and it’s mainly about the feeling that I chase—that haunting, relentless build, the sense of beauty unraveling into chaos, the dynamic releases that inspire hope. What comes to mind is either Rachmaninov’s “Concerto #2”, or Clint Mansell’s theme for Requiem for a Dream. Since I always strive to create our albums with a cinematic quality to them, let’s go with Requiem for a Dream.
There’s this tension in that piece between fragility and power, between longing and inevitability, and that emotional landscape was something I really wanted to capture in our new album, Prophecy. The melody is everything, and it can be so simple and evoke so much emotion. I wanted to channel the sense of an unstoppable force approaching, the collapse of illusion, and the rise of something powerful. That influence shows up in the layered strings, the dramatic pacing, and the cinematic scale of the album. I wanted Prophecy to feel like it’s pulling you into a vision—beautiful, tragic, hopeful and ultimately transformative. It’s a mirror into our world, and like Requiem for a Dream, it doesn’t look away.
It reflects what we often try to avoid and holds up a mirror to the broken promises of our time. The technology meant to liberate us, now surveils us and breaks human connection. Voices meant to unite us now divide. Prophecy lives in that tension and forces us to sit with it. But it’s not just darkness, the mirror reflects our potential. Can we evolve and build our reality on the other side of fear? And that’s how Requiem for a Dream makes me feel. It’s not just weight, it’s also bravery and hope. The refusal to look away when it matters most.
Bad Omens x Poppy: “V.A.N”
For this album, our newest member Doug Weiand brought in eight-string guitars. There is some inspiration from the band Bad Omens. There’s something about the way they use low tune guitars, because it’s not just heavy, it’s textured, and blends the heavy low tuning with groove in a way that’s very musical. That unique balance of low tuning and rhythm really helped to shape the direction we wanted to take with these tracks. It’s not just heaviness, but the atmosphere, depth, and melodic lines. Bad Omens shows that you can be crushing and still groove, and that became the basic idea for the writing process of Prophecy.
Rammstein: “Engel”
Rammstein is also an inspiration—their blend of industrial heaviness and dark theatrical energy. Some of our songs have this old school, almost mechanical vibe in the track, and we wanted to balance that with a catchy, melodic chorus, something that sticks with you. The goal was to create a contrast—gritty, driving riffs layered with haunting melodies. That tension between raw power and memorable hooks is what makes the track stand out, and it’s very present in what Rammstein does. The mix of heavy guitars and memorable melodies works really well and gives the song its own unique feel.
ESSENTIALS
“Death Note”
Death Note is the perfect gateway into our world and the world of our new album Prophecy. It captures our melodic side while still delivering that cinematic, heavy energy that defines the album. The song is emotionally intense, both musically and lyrically. It deals with the concept of AI making its way into humanity and the human struggle to hold onto identity in the face of technological control. That theme of transformation, of battling illusion, and reclaiming self-awareness, runs throughout the entire record, and the seeds of this concept were planted early on in our discography “Death Note” gives a sense of our sound, powerful vocals, dynamic arrangements, and lyrics that dive into deeper philosophical territory. It sets the tone for everything that follows.
“Give It to Me (Mind Assassin)”
“Give It to Me (Mind Assassin)” showcases our theatrical side, where we get to fully step into character and bring the story to life in a dramatic and fun way
I love to play with the personas and the world we’ve created throughout Prophecy, adding layers of mystery, intensity, and some dark humor. Lyrically, it has a deeper philosophical meaning. It dives into the idea of manipulation, control, and the battle for mental freedom, but we’ve wrapped those heavy concepts in a way that’s fun, powerful, and visually engaging. Especially, having a guest artist, Ben V. from Ludovico Technique, embody the character of the Mind Assassin.
We always strive to blend thought-provoking themes with high-impact, cinematic energy, and this song is a good example of that. It’s theatrical, intense, and it’s a little bit twisted, but in the best way possible.
“The Unknown”
We wrote this song in 2020, when the world stood still, and it has really become a staple for us. It’s the song we close most of our live sets with, and it holds a special place both for the band and the audience.
It captures so much of what Edge of Paradise is about. Musically, it’s melodic, epic, and cinematic, but it also taps into a more vulnerable and emotional side. Lyrically, it explores themes of existentialism, questioning what lies beyond, who we are, and what we become when everything falls away.
There’s a sense of belonging in that song as well, a feeling of coming full circle. It’s about finding empowerment in the unknown, embracing the uncertainty, and turning it into strength. That message is something we try to carry through all our records. “The Unknown” is a reflection of our core as a band.
