Seven Steps To The Green Door: Fetish

Years ago I had the chance to review a German band called Seven Steps To The Green Door and their album Step In 2 My World. Let's just say I was mightily impressed. Seven years later I got to hear the band again with their fourth album Fetish hitting my disc player. There have been a few lineup changes since then; gone are guitarist Andreas Gemeihardt and vocalist Ronny Gruber and guitarist Martin Schnella has been added to the fold. There is also an impressive array of special guests including Arno Menses (Subsignal – vocals on track 8), Steve Unruh (United Progressive Fraternity, Resistor – violin solo on track 9) and Daniel Mash (UPF, Tangent – bass solo on track 9) to name but a few.

The album cover certainly had me wondering the direction the band had taken since their sophomore effort. Fear not as the band's music is still eclectic offering many styles under the progressive umbrella. There are so many thematic twists and turns and changes in direction your head will be spinning for days and the amazing thing is it all makes perfect sense. The vocals are still an integral part of the band's makeup as well. The vocal arrangements are as complex as ever with three band members adding vocals and doing a marvelous job.

The first track "Possible Delayed" is less than a minute but the acapella vocal arrangement recalls Gentle Giant at their best. "Porn" is all quirky keyboard lines, off kilter beats and cool change ups and transitions while "Still Searching" begins with beautiful background harmonies and lead vocals. Again, the Gentle Giant comparison can be made. The sound is quite lush and melodic with clean guitar solos, outstanding bass and tricky tempo changes. "Imprisoned" ranges from heavy orchestral prog to more pastoral passages and "Inferior" features heavily injected riffs done with great dramatic effect. The rest of the tunes are as equally absorbing including the sixteen minute "Ordinary Maniac" going from a gentle intro of acoustic guitar and vocals to meatier riffs and huge organ chords. Back and forth it goes in this smartly executed epic.

SSTTGD has really knocked it out of the park with Fetish. One of the best albums of the year thus far. Recommended for all fans of progressive music.

Released on Progressive Promotions Records.

Track Listing:
1. Possible Delayed (0:39)
2. Porn (8:50)
3. Still Searching (9:55)
4. Inferior (7:03)
5. Imprisoned (9:08)
6. Bound In Chains (8:53)
7. Last Lullaby (9:01)
8. Set In Motion (8:39)
9. Ordinary Maniac (16:10)

Added: September 27th 2015
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2154
Language: english

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