OF HOPE & ORDEALS

'The Great Unknown' formatted intro, airy and technical, on fresh Dream Theater that doesn't take itself too seriously; synths in front and Markus with a sensual, unique voice, a good FM rock riff in the distance. The guitar and keyboard solos including a vintage one that follow one another, perfect with this aggressive, heady riff and this progressive variation. 'Ghost Veil' fusion of Dream Theater and a Metallica ballad, Erik's keyboards very Rudessian. The dark tone rises, the syncopated rhythm prints a very pleasant ersatzian sound, fresher and younger than Dream Theater, astonishing. Markus with a high vocal, the swirling keyboard recalling 'Pull me Under'; wet outro. 'V23' launches, big symphonic piano intro, the eclectic keyboard on a typical airy ballad; a radio edit for the easily accessible consensual title with violins smelling of purple marshmallow; outro laughing seagull plunging 'Underwater' into an aquatic arpeggio intro; the keyboards, drums, nervous riff, to recalibrate and give pep. Nervous vocals, on Symphony X then Opeth for the growl voice; calm break redefining their musical creative facilities with a divine guitar solo from Luca. The final crescendo recalls the great hours of the best of Dream Theater without outrageously copying them.

'Mind Flayer' title gets into it with the riff, the prog metal atmosphere making reference; a catchy high voice, choirs, the metal riff, Ayreon's vintage keyboards, the intermezzo with Maciej's percussions and this guitar taken from the famous 'Seven son' by Maiden. A single with the dark outro leading to 'Black Sky: Final Frontier' in 6 parts, epic sequel to the previous album. Instrumental prog metal for 4 minutes with Exodus, an oriental atmosphere with a solo reminiscent of John Petrucci's on Arrival, a play between energetic vocals and explosive instrumentation on Architects, a magnificent cello resting in Lament seconding Markus with an ethereal voice; a thunderous muscular break to listen to, indescribable in Zero with the return of the millimetered growl and a grandiloquent cinematic finale slightly conventional on Rayons de lumière. A stack of drawers, cascading harmonies, tempo changes, effective solos and an imposing rhythmic fluidity for the epic title.

Seventh Dimension signs a major album of progressive metal eyeing Dream Theater, Symphony X, Andromeda, Opeth, Circus Maximus, Forgotten Suns and Ayreon, that makes 7. Social texts, musical images on the hope of dreaming, of traveling thanks to this immortal current. An essential album for anyone who loves progressive metal, which I didn't know before this review, shame on me. Excellent. (4.5). Originally on Progcensor.