A.C.T

The Swedish A.C.T with its sparkling art rock is a band after my own heart. I once labeled the quintet as a bunch of young dogs and that's how I've always seen the band, regardless of age or haircut. Listening to 2006's "Silence", their fourth studio album, I hear so much to rave about, I have to tell you.

As for their style, the band's art rock has a neo-progressive vibe and is interspersed with catchy hard rock riffs. There is a lot of room for the touching high vocals and also the wide choirs often find their way to the listener. The keyboard playing always has something frivolous in it and it is therefore special wherever the band sounds cheerful and melancholic at the same time.

The line-up of the band has remained almost the same over the years, only a few changes regarding the drummer took place. As a result a close collective can be heard and not only in terms of ensemble playing, the compositions and arrangements are also solidly put together. The album contains 19 tracks which seems more than it is. For example, the first ten songs are all nice, concise and song-like, while the following nine tracks are part of the epic Consequences. As the album progresses, a lot of virtuosity emerges.

Yet having a brilliant playing technique does not automatically mean the compositions are perfectly okay. Well, that is not the case for A.C.T where excellent playing and a compositional richness in any area are constantly to be heard. The album is a candy jar full of variety. Tap it old man.

To begin with, the sights go first on the individual numbers. Opener Truth Is Pain is an exuberant track with a short guitar solo, a flashy start. Puppeteers is the most catchy song on the album, propelled by tight drums and adorned with a beautiful vocal line, set in the glowing choirs all around. With the mid-tempo song This Wonderful World, A.C.T delivers one of the most beautiful songs I know. It is unique in style with its bombardon rhythm. In Out Of Ideas the band comes up with a reggae-tinged piece and although I have zero interest in this genre, they still managed to fascinate me. The ease the band hops from passage to passage is unbelievable. You suddenly find yourself in the 80s, beautiful bass work, typical keyboard playing and a jazzy guitar solo. Hope starts with a staccato riff towards prog metal. How brilliant? The solo, with its beautiful collaboration between guitar and keyboards, also comes from a genius mind. One of my favorite tracks on the album is No Longer Touching Ground, simply because the vocal melody is so appealing to me. I have a thing for those expressive high singers. The comparison with Robby Valentine is therefore hard to suppress. And if you say Robby Valentine, the name Freddie Mercury has also fallen quickly. The last of the first ten songs would therefore not have been out of place on an old Queen record.

On to the epic. Although Consequences with its nine subtracks lasts 22:39, it is more of a whole than it initially appears. Fragmentary it is, but that's just part of A.C.T, don't moan. Okay, the band immediately misleads you with the beautiful theme of the epic. Isn't this just All Out Of Love by Air Supply? Does not matter. The theme is relieved by a nice piece of prog metal, followed by a quiet piece called Introduction. My Ying and Yang are now hanging from the ceiling but we keep on smiling. After that it's all great with the icing on the cake being the opening theme on repeat over which a great guitar solo is played.

The album also contains a multimedia section that I can't, don't want and don't need to watch. The music itself on "Silence" is enough for me.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com

After another two years we got our third in a row EP and this one is a little longer, featuring six new compositions. What can I say? It's a great time to be an A.C.T fan right now!

After a short intro we are thrown into Digging a Hole and this one is another gem, which was especially welcoming after the deviating tone and songwriting approach that we've gotten on the previous EP Heatwave. This is a return to the bombastic A.C.T sound that reminds me of Imaginary Friends and Last Epic albums, but sounding new and different at the same time. The Girl Without a Past is another piece of pleasant nostalgia that works as a follow-up to Emelie (Ms. Amnesia), from Today's Report, and I love how the band manages to merge the old and new all in this one performance without making it feel like a rehash of their previous material.

Breathe is another Ola Andersson-penned winner that took me some time to appreciate. I love how the melodic hooks and vocal arrangements pay homage to the band's past and the orchestral arrangement pushes these six minutes to a complete masterpiece for me. We get back into heavy and groovy territory with A Race Against Time, which fits well in with the theme of this EP and that gets a strong conclusion on The Earth Will Be Gone, but more on that soon. One Last Goodbye continues with the apocalyptic themes and it seems like Ola Andersson and Jerry Sahlin manage to nicely complement each other's song writing to create a complete experience with tracks 5-8 on Falling. The long emotional guitar solo, towards the end, brings this composition to a strong close and I personally would have preferred not to repeat the chorus at the end and go straight into my personal favourite composition The Earth Will Be Gone.

Just when I thought that Ola Andersson was gonna get the award for the strongest contribution, here comes Jerry Sahlin and completely knocks me off my feet with this five minute mini epic. I get goose bumps whenever I hear The Earth Will Be Gone with its amazing build up and chorus. The second half of the composition is heartbreaking but also gives me a feeling of hope and believe in the strength of the human spirit, despite how Falling concludes.

Falling might not be as moody as Heatwave but the second part of this EP is definitely one of the most ambitious roller-coasters that I ever experienced on an A.C.T release. I have no idea how the band will manage to top this performance but I'm sure that they still have a few tricks up their sleeve and will manage to give us many more surprises in the years to come!

***** star songs: Digging a Hole (4:57) Breathe (5:41) The Earth Will Be Gone (5:06)

**** star songs: The Girl Without a Past (3:58) A Race Against Time (3:15) One Last Goodbye (5:22) Fall Out (1:07)

*** star songs: Fall In (0:38)

Two years after Ribirth (2019) and the follow-up tour, we got another 5 new compositions that form Heatwave EP. I remember being extremely excited when listening to this EP for the first time and wondered if A.C.T would be able to top their magnificent 2019 EP. The short answer is no, but I wouldn't call this a disappointment in any way. Rather, these compositions show the band going into their vast musical vocabulary and finding new ways of reinventing their music.

After a brief intro we are thrown into familiar domain with Checked Out, where the band does another excellent mix of rocking guitars/drums with their soft melodic touch. Brother is where things get interesting with the sombre approach that was introduced on A Broken Trust, two years earlier, but now the mood is pushed even further in that direction. Dark Clouds is another quieter moment, but this time penned by Ola Andersson. I love the melody and the slow building tension in the composition but feel like something is missing in this track to push it even higher on my list of A.C.T favourites.

The title track of Heatwave EP is another unusual mix where we first get a familiar A.C.T sound in the verses but then go into a repeat of the Brother chorus, but with different lyrics. There must be some hidden meaning behind this approach, but I can't say that I completely understand it. Luckily The Breakup is where we get another familiar Jerry Sahlin-penned composition with very significant lyric content, which is enhanced by Herman Saming's emotional delivery. I like how this composition takes its time to unravel, but also feel like the song overstays its welcome, which becomes apparent with repeated listens.

Heatwave EP might not have managed to main the momentum that I heard on Ribirth, but let's be honest about the fact that A.C.T had set an extremely high bar with their 2019 EP, so a slight decline was expected. But I wouldn't call it a decline in quality, but rather it was another ambitious project and this time it didn't give me as much pleasure. Still, it's an EP that I have played many times and will continue to listen to whenever I need a different moodier fix from one of my all time favourite bands. Anything less than excellent addition rating would be an understatement.

***** star songs: Checked Out (5:35)

**** star songs: Brother (4:35) Dark Clouds (5:09) Heatwave (4:03) The Breakup (7:53)

*** star songs: Intro (0:40)

After the triumphant return with Circus Pandemonium (2014) and the following mini-tour, that was captured on Trifles And Pandemonium (2016), the A.C.T camp got quiet again. There were some shows in 2017, which I unfortunately wasn't able to attend and I, once again, got worried that the band would take a longer hiatus. Fortunately this wasn't the case and we got the first signs of life in early 2019 where Jerry Sahlin hinted about some new material.

Rebirth EP was released in April that same year, making it almost 5 years old at this point in time. I can't even count the number of times I've heard these five new tracks, since I got my hands on the EP, just around the time of the release date. The Ruler of the World was the official single and it definitely sounded like a classic A.C.T composition penned by Jerry Sahlin. While it might not be my favourite on the EP, it gave me goosebumps while listening to it just a few minutes ago. Things would get even more exciting with Running Out of Luck with a crashing intro following a bunch of twists and turns until we get to the pompous ABBA-esque chorus and a short guitar solo from Ola Andersson. These 3 and a half minutes are pure bliss to my ears and I highly recommend it as introduction to A.C.T and their sound, if you've never heard them before.

I was shocked when I heard Digital Affair for the first time and couldn't believe that the band when into electronica territory. Of course I was overreacting since this is another very strong composition and it definitely shines through despite all the effects and programmed drums. To me, this could potentially be the crossover hit that A.C.T have always needed in order to gather recognition from a wider audience. I sometimes image how this song would have worked if A.C.T performed it at Melodifestivalen (annual Swedish song competition which determines Sweden's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest). Not sure if the majority of the mainstream audiences would vote for it, in the competition, but I definitely think that many would see the strong qualities in the composition and performance, to garner A.C.T a new fan base. Too bad it's only a dream.

Meet the Past starts with an ABBA-esque keyboard melody which goes into Last Epic territory with verses and chorus. I especially love Peter Asp's memorable bass playing and another excellent guitar solo from Ola Andersson. A Broken Trust closes out the EP with a sombre moment and it makes sense that the track was placed last, since it also marks a clear transition to the sounds that will dominate the following Heatwave EP.

I cannot see how Rebirth can get anything less than the top grade from me. This is a 22 minute package of pure joy which I can highly recommend to anyone who loves strong melodic hooks and skilled musicianship!

***** star songs: Running Out of Luck (3:28) Digital Affair (4:11) Meet the Past (3:55)

**** star songs: The Ruler of the World (5:26) A Broken Trust (5:11)

Trifles And Pandemonium was a special live album released by A.C.T after playing selected dates throughout 2014, two of which I got to experience first-hand. The set consisted of a chronological retrospective of each studio album, starting with Today's Report and bookended by tracks from Circus Pandemonium. Hence the the title Trifles And Pandemonium and there were definitely quite a few trifles along in this setlist. Some of the highlights are Waltz With Mother Nature, A Supposed Tour, Svetlana, Manipulator, Call In Dead and a spectacular performance of A Mother's Love!

The live recording was done in a barn in Tyringe, in southern Sweden, where the band rigged cameras and lights to make a professionally shot and recorded live performance. The performances were captured between 6-8th of June, 2014. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the recording session but, judging from the final product, it must have been an amazing experience.

I own copies of both the video and the audio recordings and enjoy both of them. The audio version reminds me of the two great concerts that I got to see with A.C.T in 2014, while the video portion gives a great visual supplement to the experience. To be honest, I don't watch the video portion as often but the audio recoding is still played by me a few times every year. The energy that the band delivers in the live versions of these tracks is even better than the studio recordings and I'm amazed of the level of musicianship that A.C.T show in each and every one of their live shows to this day.

***** star songs: The End (5:58) Waltz With Mother Nature (7:07) A Supposed Tour (4:38) Svetlana (3:45) Wailings From A Building (4:23) Mr. Landlord (4:38) Manipulator (6:27) Call In Dead (2:44) A Mother's Love (3:11)


**** star songs: Everything's Falling (4:21) Abandoned World (4:03) The Wandering (6:53) Take It Easy (3:12) Dance Of Mr. Gumble (2:06) Joanna (3:49) A Wound That Won't Heal (4:29) Manager's Wish (5:49) A Truly Gifted Man (7:52)

It was a great Christmas gift to read the news of a new A.C.T release, back in December 2013. At that point, I wasn't sure what the status of the band was. I remember having a brief chat with Thomas Lejon, after his gig with Andromeda, in 2011, and asking him about that status of A.C.T but didn't get much more than that the band members were still in touch.

I bought Circus Pandemonium as soon as it was released for pre-order and even got the Japanese release, from some weird Japanese website where I could barely figure out how to place my order. Luckily both versions arrived without any issues and I was ready to dive deep into the fifth official studio release from A.C.T!

The 8 year release gap didn't affect the sound nor the production of the album, as this was still clearly the band I've known and loved. The album was an enjoyable ride from start to finish, or is it the other way at round? More on that later. There were quite a few standout tracks for me initially like Everything's Falling, A Truly Gifted Man and The Funniest Man Alive. Eventually, some of the tracks got a bit overplayed for me, while others grew even more, especially once I got to see A.C.T at their comeback gig on March 1st, 2014 in Gotherburg, Sweden. The band was even better live than I remembered them to be and all the members were firing on all cylinders. This was my all time favorite A.C.T performance to date and I got to see them four more times since then.

The album's concept is not that complicated on paper and I like the twist of having the story play out in reverse order, in style of Christoper Nolan's Memento. But let's be honest, it's the performances and the songwriting that are the focal point of this album. It's safe to say that A.C.T deliver in both categories and managed to craft another fantastic release. I do enjoy Circus Pandemonium a lot and have considered it to be a complete masterpiece on a few occasions, but having had 9 years with it, I will call it a near masterpiece that fits perfectly it the band's discography.

***** star songs: The End (5:56) Everything's Falling (4:55) Look At The Freak (1:13) A Mother's Love (2:37) Lady In White (4:40)

**** star songs: Intro (1:01) Manager's Wish (5:54) A Truly Gifted Man (6:44) Presentation (1:03) Argument (1:06) Confrontation (1:12) The Funniest Man Alive (3:46) Scared (4:43) A Failed Escape Attempt (5:18) Freak Of Nature (5:59)

Listening diary 25th March, 2022: A.C.T - Imaginary Friends (progressive rock, 2001)

A.C.T's incredibly distinctive brand of pop-prog-metal-rock opera is already very evident here, and though it's not quite as complete as on Last Epic, it's still worth celebrating. Whether you love this music really comes down to your ability to handle cheese, because this packs it in at an unprecedented rate. Every melody on it is sugary sweet, straight out of a Disney Channel musical, but with the prog sensibility of the guitars and song structuring, you get a frequent break to allow some of those hooks to sink in without getting to overbearing. The metal here is fairly tame and anyone coming for riffs will likely be disappointed, but if you like musicals and cheese, this is some of the best out there.

6.8 (3rd listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

30th May, 2021: A.C.T - Silence (progressive rock/metal, 2006)

I'm not entirely convinced by this one, but A.C.T's brand of hyper-melodic pop metal isn't always instantly digestible. I can hear bits of what made its predecessor so stupidly catchy on this, but not enough to overwhelm the constant and occasionally unbearable cheese. They're a band that you really have to be in a particular mood for, and perhaps only those who are into show tunes can really love them, but I could see this one growing on me if I let its melodies in.

5.9 (1st listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

"Silence" is the 4th full-length studio album by Swedish progressive rock/metal act A.C.T. The album was released through InsideOut Music in June 2006. It´s the successor to "Last Epic" from 2003 and it´s the band´s first release on a larger label. InsideOut Music also picked up "Last Epic (2003)" for a 2007 reissue. The five-piece lineup who recorded "Last Epic (2003)" is intact on "Silence".

Stylistically A.C.T continue the melodic progressive rock style (with the occasional progressive metal element) of the previous releases. Although A.C.T try their hands at some darker lyrical topics than usual, most of the tracks are still uplifting in mood and the instrumentatal performances as sophisticated as ever. "Silence" is a technically well played album, but A.C.T aren´t an abrasive progressive rock unit, who play thousands of notes and fretboard/keyboard runs for the sake of it. Those elements exist in their music, but they are often incorporated in a more subtle manner. Lead vocalist Herman Saming has a distinct sounding voice and delivery which provide the music with a unique touch.

"Silence" consists of 11 individual tracks and the 22:41 minutes long closing multi-part epic "Consequences". The latter also consists of individual tracks, which make up the epic, so it´s not one long continuous song. The material are well written, but the album still feels a little long (running at 68:15 minutes), and some of the individual tracks aren´t that memorable, which is odd since they are all highly melodic and catchy. "Consequences" is definitely the highligt of the album and also the track where A.C.T get to really show their playing skills and creative ideas.

Although I did mention that A.C.T on occasion include heavy riffs and other heavy metal traits in their music, it´s only an element and it´s not a dominant one. So "Silence" is first and foremost a melodic progressive rock album. Sometimes I wonder if the members of the band (or at least some of them) come from a heavy metal background, because of the way some of the riffs are constructed, but since the distortion is not turned to 11, but rather to 4, you won´t get an aggressive heavy metal feeling that often when listening to "Silence".

"Silence" is a well produced release, featuring a clear sounding and detailed production, suiting the melodic and sophisticated nature of the material well. Upon conclusion "Silence" is another quality release by A.C.T and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

Here are the early recording from one of my favorite prog bands from Sweden!

This album is hard to find these days, but I bought it legally on MP3 in a fine site on the Internet. It's a compilation of early recordings of the band along with some preliminary versions of songs which were included in the excellent first album of the band.

The quality of the sound, especially the live tracks, is not the best. But the music shows the great potential that this band had which would later materialize itself in a bunch of splendid records, specifically the first two releases of the band, which are still the best of their career.

Best Tracks: the best tracks are maybe Recall and Abandoned World. But as this songs were included in Today's Report, I would say that His Voice and Warsong are the most valuable songs of this collection of rarities.

Conclusion: if you are new to A.C.T., this early recordings are definitely not the best place to start. But if you like this fine band's music, you will find this compilation very interesting, because it shows the early ideas and style which make A.C.T. great in posterior releases.

My rating: ***