Short Reviews [Seven Steps To The Green Door - 2024 - "The? Truth"]

It has taken more than a decade to get here, but finally we have the conclusion of the trilogy which started in 2011 with "The ? Book" and was followed up with 2019's 'The ? Lie' where we could see the cover of the book getting slightly ripped, now fully revealed as "The ? Truth". It is the band's sixth album, and of the band’s four musicians only two have returned, who have both been there since the beginnings in 2004, in Marek Arnold (keyboards, saxophones, Seaboard) and Ulf Reinhardt (drums & percussion) and they have been joined by Robert Brenner (bass) and Martin Fankhanel (electric & acoustic guitars). This is a story of religious fanaticism and to bring it to life they have used 15 singers, many of whom are returning to roles they played last time such as Lars Kohler (Samuel), Peter Jones (Father), Anne Trautmann (Evangeline) and Jana-Christina Poche (Mother). I have been a fan of Marek's music for many years, not only in SSTTGD but Toxic Smile, Damanek, Cyril, Artrock Project etc and his combination of keyboards and saxophone always lifts whoever he is involved with (I still firmly believe Artrock Project’s "Stay" is a true classic). However, this album finds him lifting his contribution to new heights as this is an album which screams "class" from the beginning to end. True, some of the guitar riffs in "Revelations" follow a descending path we have come across previously, but they provide the perfect emphasis to what is taking place above. This is neo prog bursting out of the sub-genre and showing people just what can happen when it is in the hands of people who truly have a clear direction and know exactly what they want to achieve. It is multi-faceted and multi-layered and I have had difficulties getting off my player as each time I listen to it I find more to discover, from the xylophone here, the African shuffles there, and even a trip into territory which is more akin to metal than anything remotely prog. This is very much deep inside Clive Nolan territory, but with a different palette, bringing to life a complex story with music which is melodic and engaging. To my ears this is easily their best work to date and while it would make send to start with The ? Book' this is still thoroughly enjoyable even if you have not come across the others.