These Sacred Few – Eden’s Blessing
Summer of 2026 in Nashville set records with brutal weather and high temperatures, but local rock group Eden’s Blessing was ready to step up and meet the heat with the release of their latest EP; These Sacred Few. Full of grit, lush soundscapes, and vocals that tear through the music demanding to be heard, this record warrants plenty of revisits. It’s a project that’s best played loud, ideally in the car with the windows down on a hot, sunny day. Right out of the gate, the band showcases their raw style and talent on the opening track, “So Easy.” While the song is obviously written to a lover, it is far from what could be considered a love song. “I am nothing to you but a lover’s end,” sums up the emotion of the track, ending with an effected vocal coming up from the background to say, “You make me sick.”
Eden’s Blessing didn’t choose to slow things down after the first song, but instead make the move into “Revelations,” a track that is reminiscent of music from great alternative rock acts. Fast, loud, and a little unhinged, this song would have no trouble fitting in on playlists with music from early Cage The Elephant. Stacked with huge guitar riffs, big hits from Rio Lee-Ribas on the drums, and a driving baseline from Josh Shurden underneath it all, singer and guitarist Chris Valentine uses the rhythm section as a foundation for his screeching melodies as he sings, “God’s gonna cut you down, thunder’s coming down.” With the help of engineer Eli Wheels, the energy was captured so well on this track, you can almost close your eyes and see the band performing on stage.
Shifting into track three, “In the Oud,” a single acoustic guitar picks and strums through the a more gentle progression, accompanied only by warped, unintelligible chatter and atmospheric swells that give the instrumental tune an eerie, dreamy feel. Immediately following the soft, acoustic song sits my personal favorite track from this project: “Manic Destiny.” A few seconds of feedback and a once-through of the main riff on guitar act almost as a warning for the fast-paced rock song that occupies the following minute or so. “I don’t want to live life just to be lonely, bury my heart in the cemetery,” sings Valentine before the band drops out into a spacious, instrumental vamp where Josh Shurden has the opportunity to showcase his skills on the bass guitar before the group returns to the intro, which is almost impossible not to nod (or bang) your head along to.
The final song on These Sacred Few, “Vivian,” moves the project in a totally different direction. Whispering vocals sing, “Rest. You can rest now,” above a quiet, subdued guitar that picks through the chord changes. Even outside of the lyrics, you can tell almost immediately that this song is a goodbye to someone who the writer dearly loves from the energy and sound of the track. Fitting the theme of grief and mourning, the band builds the soft song into a heavy, full-hearted jam, pumping through the progression as Valentine wails out, bathed in reverb and backed by more indiscernible chatter that makes you want to listen a little closer. At the end of the farewell track sits a voicemail from who I assume to be Vivian herself, where she is returning a call to Chris saying that she loves him and will talk to him soon.
Recorded at East Iris Studios here in Nashville, These Sacred Few is a shining example of the creativity that thrives in Nashville’s underground rock scene. If you’re on the hunt for solid Rock & Roll in middle Tennessee, Eden’s Blessing should be at the top of your list. While the band isn’t currently promoting any upcoming shows, follow them on Instagram to stay in the loop and catch them on stage as soon as possible.
These Sacred Few was released on July 11th, 2026.
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