THE GREAT ESCAPE

From start to finish, this album is extraordinary. Seventh Wonder has a way of writing a melody that could be the melody for a very ordinary pop song, and underlaying it with an incredible, exciting, ever-changing and astoundingly complex instrumental background like no other. The stars of the band are Tommy Karevik ? the singer with the voice so smooth he should be called Velvet, Andreas Blomqvist ? the bassist who laughs in the face of guitar shredders, and Johan Liefvendahl ? the guitarist who says "what does Mozart have on me anyways?" Every note on this album sounds more crisp and amazing than every note on 99% of every other album the world over. These guys are technically astounding while being stunningly beautiful at the same time.

A definite highlight of this album is the 30 minute title track, The Great Escape, a concept song based on the poems 'Aniara' by Swedish Nobel laureate Harry Martinson. It deals with the tragedy of a space ship which, originally bound for Mars with a cargo of surviving colonists from a ravaged and destroyed Earth, is ejected from the solar system and becomes entangled in an existential struggle. The first track 'Wiseman' doubles loosely as a prequel to the events of 'The Great Escape'.

These guys are a jewel in the crown of Progressive Metal and it is truly a shame that they are also one of Prog Rock's best kept secrets.