MERCY FALLS

What is it about progressive metal concept albums about people in comas? Queensryche kicked the trend off with Operation: Mindcrime, Ayreon did it with The Human Equation, and the same plot device shows up in Seventh Wonder's Mercy Falls. In fact, the overall premise is very similar to The Human Equation's, since both involve a protagonist who following a car crash has to undergo a range of intense reflections on their interior troubles and their relations with others, though I have to give Mercy Falls the edge with its plot; the personal revelations involved about the protagonist's family life mean there's something substantial to actually discover beyond psychological platitudes, whilst the motif of the town of Mercy Falls helps aesthetically tie things together.

On top of that, Seventh Wonder set this all off against a solid musical backing, reminiscent of a more straightforward Dream Theater, which really rounds out the package. At the same time, I find I don't really come back to it that much - as accessible and enjoyable as it is on a first listen, I find it doesn't offer me much on later spins.