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Welcome to Mercy Falls, a town where tragedy collides
with the human element – and the story unravels throughout
Seventh Wonder’s most ambitious album to date – but is it
more than just one story, yes it is, and it all comes together
full circle on what appears to be the concept album of the
year.
Mercy Falls is one solid record, a piece of work that
stands in line with the first wave of progressive metal bands
& modern day troubadours such as Circus Maximus, Stride, Vox
Tempus, and Sphere of Souls for music that keeps the focus
on the melody – but here, with this being a concept album,
Seventh Wonder’s strengths are shown further when the concept
is brought to the table, as so few are able to keep the musical
element strong while keeping or even attempting thematic overtones
– as this band pulls it off on both ends, making for a completely
solid record.
The music itself is brought forth with instrumental passages,
sound effects, and even dialog from characters that help enhance
the overall story and mood – the album starts out with the
instrumental “A New Beginning,” which is where the tragedy
begins (a car accident, where we are treated to a mass of
orchestration which leads up to a metallic jam session that
is amongst a backdrop of sirens & emergency radio communication…hinting
that this is going to be a dark journey). Intensity is followed
with the second track (“There and Back”) which is also an
instrumental cut; creating an interlude to more hard edged
numbers such as “Welcome to Mercy Falls,” the staccato laden
“A Day Away,” “Paradise,” and “Destiny Calls,” which all portray
the upbeat side to the record; but with the concept comes
the emotive stance and laid back tunes as well as balladry
are cleverly executed with “Tears for a Son,” “Tears for a
Father,” and “Break the Silence” casting the darker pall upon
the fifteen cuts. Two climatic songs end this record, “Back
in Time” where the concept seems to take its shocking turn,
and “The Black Parade,” which is almost like a reprise, not
necessarily to the concept, but to the actual psychological
themes altogether.
Recorded by the band with help from Daniel Flores (Mind’s
Eye), mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Manticora),
with bassist Andreas Blomqvist at the helm of it all, Mercy
Falls is not only a record of excellent musical feat, but
it proves with all involved really are helping lead the way
for the real solid melodic progressive metal to come back
to the forefront in the days where the song is often lost
unto overdone arrangements & production (yes there is are
catchy choruses and hook laden riffs on this one). Within
the spectrum of concept albums it falls upon the lines of
Operation: Mindcrime instead of something that is far fetched
such as Pain of Slavation’s Be; the right nerve has been struck
with Mercy Falls, album number three proves to be the charm
for these guys, like label mates Mind’s Eye, they just keep
getting more elaborate, and it’s on their own terms at their
own pace, not setting out to make the wrong music for the
wrong reason – it’s all right and it’s all good here.
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