ALBUM REVIEW: The Testament – Seventh Wonder
The grand limelight of 2022 has looked rather favourably on the pomp and bombast of power metal so far. Newcomers like POWER PALADIN have arisen and left an indelible brand on the annals of the genre, while longstanding stalwarts like BATTLE BEAST and SABATON maintain a tight grip on their thrones. Sweden’s SEVENTH WONDER are not newcomers, nor weathered icons, but rather a dormant force still waiting for the right time to burst. Since 2005, their efficacy in prog-power has conjured hefty acclaim and a devout following but never the mainstay appeal that would sit them among their greater countrymen. The Testament, by name if anything else, should be a monument to their persistence and reliability as a forger of catchy power metal with a refreshing prog garnish. Whether this is the case is another matter entirely…
Despite a four year absence, the irons remain hot from the band’s 2018 effort, Tiara, where The Testament picks up to strike. Tiara in itself was a precarious affair – the band’s first studio album in eight years with a brand new drummer on board to further perturb fans’ expectations, but still nothing could shake their immovable consistency. The unsung Swedish quintet never lost sight of the crux of their appeal and remain just as focused in 2022. The Testament, then, plays a welcomingly familiar tune to the band’s devotees. An indulgent reprise of progressive metal’s djent-less outset boasting rhythmic complexities, soul-over-savagery solos and, of course, a generous helping of power metal spectacle in its hair-raising harmonies and vocal theatrics from Tommy Karevik. A record that plays to a predictable but fine-tuned skillset with little room for pretentiousness in their prog and plenty of space for excess in their aptitude for a damn good time.
The bottom line is as concise as it can get. So close yet so far. The record topples at the verge of greatness but equally comes away fairly unscathed and joins the band’s archives as a project worthy of its lofty name. A tale of two halves, the band rarely put a foot wrong on the record’s first handful of punches. The one-two of Warriors and The Light will be well-rehearsed by fans on release with the two being pre-released singles and both make a solid argument for their role of leading the charge. The former is as macho and invigorating as its namesake suggests, with hulking riffs making the first impressions and Karevik’s grandiose range make navigating the aural fields of war a treat. Key master Andreas Söderin is specifically one to watch here as he throws fleets of glossy, 70s-drenched, cascading notes like ABBA rocking up to soundtrack the Battle of the Somme.
It’s a tried and tested tactic, for sure, but one that maintains the band’s bewitching ability to conjure ear-to-ear grins and gives The Testament its all but vital fun factor. Tracks one through five see this formula stretched and bent with ease, and the band have no intention of impeding their songwriting for sake of simplicity. There are hefty ballads and heart-jerkers like album highlight I Carry The Blame (with its monumental chorus), instrumental indulgence Reflections where string-master Johan Liefvendahl is let off the leash, and tracks like The Light and The Red River which comprise long-form bangers replete with their own deluge of head-tossing riffs and throat-tearing hooks. Let it be known, too, that the palette on which all this sits is a marvel to experience. The production, the tone, it all speaks to some of the best modern-retro prog there is and wrings the band for every shredding solo and harmonic shriek they can muster.
It’s a pity, then, that The Testament finds itself top-heavy. Invincible, Mindkiller and Under A Clear Blue Sky could never be accused of lacking heart, but the band’s key weaponry feels dulled as the battle wears on. The latter of these tracks sits just shy of nine minutes, but never quite justifies its lack of brevity; the extra theatrics thrown our way feel present only to extend the runtime and to no other gain.
This is only a disappointment relative to how close the album was to surpassing SEVENTH WONDER‘s expected efficacy, but as it stands, The Testament is still a very good album and little could rob it of that fact. Unfaltering consistency, a true force within their designated field, SEVENTH WONDER can only feel proud at another job well done – though they may teeter ever closer to something truly great – as the year for great power metal (with a dollop of great prog) continues.
Rating: 7/10
The Testament is set for release on June 10th via Frontiers Music Srl.
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