Five Stars (out of five)
When I heard news of this album, I knew what to expect.
I expected the same caliber of musicianship heard of Seventh Wonder's two previous albums: Become and Waiting in the Wings.
I expected incredibly catchy vocal melodies delivered with power and emotion from one of the strongest metal singers active today.
I did not, however, expect
this.
For those seeking brevity, allow me to provide it for you. Mercy Falls is simply a masterpiece. Do not take that claim lightly, dear reader. Mercy Falls is, without a doubt, a masterpiece.
In short, Mercy Falls is to Seventh Wonder what Operation
Mindcrime or Scenes from a Memory are to Queensryche or Dream Theater. It is a mature and fully developed concept album: one that does not fully reveal its concept upon first listen, yet never falls into the territory of thematic ambiguity. In other words, the story is complex without missing important pieces vital to a full understanding.
Mercy Falls tells the story of a tragic accident and the many years following. Throughout the album, a number of characters are examined, and we see them struggle with their lives after the accident. One character, a husband and father, remains trapped in a coma following the accident, yet his story is the real spotlight. This is but the surface of the complex plot, which becomes continually more impressive as the album progresses.
Most of the story is told within the songs themselves, though certain elements are provided through spoken sections. In many rock albums, spoken dialogue nearly ruins the album, either do to abysmal voice acting or awful writing. Mercy Falls suffers from neither of these problems. In fact, the female voice acting is stellar--perhaps the best that I've heard on any rock album.
Even more impressive is the fact that the album tells not one but two stories. Of course, they are connected, yet the way that the two stories interact is masterfully done. To provide an example that does not give away story elements, a voice acted section reveals an important action taken by the man's wife and doctors. The effects of that action are immediately explored in the next song, yet in a very unexpected and brilliant manner. It is just one example of the album's extremely creative storytelling style, which allows the plot to seem extremely fresh, despite the fact that it is, at heart, a fairly familiar situation.
Within the songs themselves, the lyrics range from good to brilliant. I counted a few lines that could be considered cliched, but these moments are far outweighed by simple moments of lyrical beauty. There are a number of vocal phrases that are extremely powerful, and the meaning contained within single lines is often multifaceted. For example, on the song Tears for a Father, the line "Please don't tell...I know you won't tell" is simultaneously heartbreaking and amusing, as it shows the typical innocence of a child coupled with the tragic reality of the situation. It's a breathtaking moment, and one of many that are likely to make your throat tighten.
Yet the story would be ineffective without strong music to support it, and Mercy Falls offers songs that will impress even the most critical progressive metal fans. The album is nearly eighty minutes long and offers songs in a variety of moods. While Seventh Wonder doesn't necessarily delve into many different musical styles, the songs never seem repetitive, and the complex rhythms and unexpected time changes ensure that the songs never seem stale.
Mercy Falls contains some insanely catchy vocal melodies. The catchiness really never lets up on this disc; it's almost overwhelming at times, as you'll be given several melodies within a song, each stronger than the last. It's something that Seventh Wonder accomplishes in a way that other progressive bands do not. Just when you think you've reached the "chorus" melody--the melody that is supposed to be the strongest within a song--another is waiting just seconds away, even stronger than the last. This is the case in the fourth track, Unbreakable, which contains some melodies that are simply stunning.
The delivery of said vocal melodies is flawless. Tommy Karevik succeeds where so many progressive vocalists fall short. Not only does he have an incredible range: the quality and strength of his voice never falters, no matter if he is singing low or high notes. In addition, the emotion of his singing is matched perhaps only by Enchant's Ted Leonard. While there are a plethora of instances in which his emotion is evident on the album, perhaps none is as strong as the performance of Tears for a Father. The lyrics themselves are heartbreaking, but the way they're sung is perhaps even more emotionally affecting. One Last Goodbye is another highlight: a song that features a female guest vocalist (who must remain nameless). Hearing them sing together is yet another moment that's likely to put a lump in your throat.
The instrumentation and production are both phenomenal as well. The production deserves an extra special mention for its ability to bring every instrument to the forefront of the mix at various times. Whether it is the thunderous bass drum technique of Johnny
Sandin or the complex grooves of bassist Andreas Blomqvist, it's all easily heard in the mix, especially with a great set of surround speakers or high-quality headphones. Unbreakable, one of the album's longer tracks, has many passages in which the guitar is central, then the bass, then the drums, and it's all balanced perfectly. Furthermore, it's crystal clear.
In a better world, this album would be absolutely huge. It deserves it. It's an album that demands the listener's undivided attention. Mercy Falls is the most accomplished concept album in recent memory, and is easily a contender for the best album of 2008. It's a disc that no fan of progressive rock and metal should pass up. Mercy Falls is the kind of album that you're proud to stand behind; it's a banner that proudly proclaims "This is what music should be."
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