MERCY FALLS

A rather cheesy drama-play over and within some solid heavy prog that uses a lot of metal themes and sounds that sound as if they come from the 1980s, only it's sound engineering is quite superior to anything coming from that decade.

1. "A New Beginning" (3:05) weird (flat/soap-opera-ish) voice acting to set up the story. (6.5/10) 2. "There And Back" (Overture) (3:02) solid heavy prog instrumental that does little to impress--other than sound engineering. (7.5/10)

3. "Welcome To Mercy Falls" (5:11) now we get to finally hear some of the band members' instrumental skills. Talented singer Tommy Karevik sounds like a cross between some iconic 80s lead singer like Loverboy's David Reno or Europe's Joey Tempest and AltrOck wunderkid Alessio Calandriello. Nice trade of solos between lead guitarist Johan Leifvendahl and keyboardist Andreas Blomqvist. (8.75/10) 4. "Unbreakable" (7:18) with its prominent keyboards, this one starts out sounding like a DREAM THEATER song, but then the music switches for the arrival of the vocals to a more 1980s familiar sound palette. Great vocalist. A little Kevin Moore feel in those keys. Nice little bass solo over the piano in the fifth minute but so out of place! (13/15) 5. "Tears For A Father" (1:58) soft ballad-like interlude. Emotional vocal performance. (4.25/5)

6. "A Day Away" (3:43) power metal music with strong classical piano presence. Could be part of a Broadway production. Don't like the fear-based advice/message: "Stay away from the playground." Nice performances but it's all been done before. (8/10)

7. "Tears For A Son" (1:43) another brief piano-based ballad to pair with #5. The vocal is a little more That Joe Payne- like in its theatric histrionics. (4.25/5)

8. "Paradise" (5:44) strong power vocal over theatric power metal (again with heavy classical piano runs throughout). Lacking a bit in cohesion and melody. Nice guitar solo in the second half. (7.75/10)

9. "Fall In Line" (6:09) synth washes and keening lead guitar solo open this one before it jumps into the race. Standard metal leads continue until switch to vocal entrance when it becomes more interesting. Nice variations in pacing and spacing. Chorus is completely clichéd. One of the more interesting songs, musically, on the album--but the 1980s-familiar vocal lets disappoints. (8.5/10)

10. "Break The Silence" (9:29) opens as metal ballad. A pleasant song with a kind of cool story arc with music that is well matched. Nice lead guitar, bass, and bass drum timing in the fifth minute soli, some very nice hooks and unexpected turns in there, too (including another awesome bass solo). One of my top three faves. (18/20) 11. "Hide And Seek" (7:46) a very nicely constructed and shaped song over which Tommy and chorus(!) sing in lower registers. It even has a decent chorus! (13/15)

12. "Destiny Calls" (6:17) one of the more complex song constructs on the album, it starts off quite impressively with the presentation of three or four unique motifs during the two minutes of instrumentalism before the vocals enter. Even when the vocals join in, the song remains excitingly disjointed as they continue to use the earlier-established motifs with instrumental variations. (8.75/10)

13. "One Last Goodbye" (4:21) acoustic guitars open this one, one strumming, one picking, before Tommy joins in with some harmony-support from an uncredited female vocalist. Nice song, another great emotional performance by Tommy Karevik. Another top three song for me. (8.75/10) 14. "Back In Time" (1:14) cool "dream"sequence flashback/review--until the "big reveal": Oops!!! (4.5/5)

15. "The Black Parade" (6:57) opens like a death metal song before layers of keys take the edge off. The lyrics seem to want to offer us life advice: live your life to the fullest each and every day. Lots of cliché platitudes. Too bad. Solid musically, though that ASIA-like chorus takes one back. (13/15)

Total Time 73:57

B-/3.5 stars; noting so very new or unique here but Mercy Falls is a very nice power prog concept album to add to your collection. Talented musicians tackle an interesting storyline with competence. Great vocal talent in Tommy Karevik.