Review Summary: The experts return.
The Testament marriages Seventh Wonder’s technical abilities with gorgeous songs and top-notch singing. It’s difficult to compete against. Some may know the frontman as the singer from Kamelot - props are due. In every stage and avenue his cadence, tone, and rhythm is purely professional. That being said, The Testament features his best performance in a bit. He’s uncaged here and explores his higher range with pinpoint accuracy. If not the best singer in progressive metal, he’s in the top three, and it puts Dream Theater’s latest outings to shame.
The Testament is notably not the heaviest album in the world. It gets darker in The Red River and Mindkiller lyrically, befitting a more sinister approach, but The Testament is overwhelmingly a cheery romp. Mindkiller is one of the highlights, catchy as pop yet bringing endless complexity from the guitar work like a rat scurrying in a cage. It’s yesterday’s news for this upper echelon progressive metal outfit, but exciting news nonetheless. Under a Clear Blue Sky continues the skillful highlights, and is the best that progressive metal has to offer. Immediately afterwards Elegy ends the album on an emotional note with thoughtful, poetic lyrics and a cinematic sound. Even at the conclusion of the album, there’s something special left in the tank.
Truly immersive, the music captures its audience with ease. Wizard guitar work and good old keyboard mastery is just the tip of the iceberg. Technically impressive instrumentation is expected, but the catchy songwriting was less expected. The choruses are gleeful entertainment, and the tunes are straight bops. The Great Escape is the last time they were this catchy, and it’s easily an improvement over Tiara.
I could see someone complaining about the album’s mainstream approach. A little heaviness is sacrificed, while somewhat “straightforward” tunes are employed. Warriors especially feels like a potentially easier track for non progressive metal fans to be eased into - an obvious single. However, there’s enough room for solos and everything you want from progressive metal within the ear pleasing melodies.
The Testament isn’t just a great album for the band, it’s a testament to the band’s enduring legacy. Seventh Wonder are still going strong, giving us hit after hit like it’s easy. I’ll admit I’m partial to progressive metal when it’s done right, and this album pleases. The album is a fairly safe release, and one might say the album isn’t very unique - I agree. However, the standout features like the smooth sailing melodies, excellent songwriting, and incredible singing are too effortlessly pretty to pass up. For fans of Seventh Wonder, you can’t go wrong with this release.
