Return to the Past 2011

"Seven Thorns offers pure power metal on this album - and pure European power metal, to be more specific, in the vein of Sonata Arctica and Helloween. Seven Thorns follow the formula for successful power metal to the point here, which means loads of melodic choruses and hooklines, neoclassicisms, fast but also melodic guitar riffs and double bass drums galore. In addition, as is typical of power metal these days, the ban make use of keyboards to add an extra dimension of epicness. A track like the opener "Liberty" is very much the epitome of European power metal. Seven Thorns do it well, I think, and tracks like the Helloween-inspired "Liberty" and "Countdown", the neoclassical "Through the Mirror", Return to the Past", and "Freedom Call" are pretty good songs which, seen from a Danish perspective, can compete with many compositions by the bigger international European power metal names. The downside to me is the use of keyboards, which at times makes my cheesometer react violently. The intros of "The End of the Road" and "Forest Majesty" are just too much for me, and "Spread Your Wings" is cheesy all the way through. I do like the choir effects in "Fires and Storms" though. On the Seven Thorns do a fine job on this album, and they deserve an international career on par with the bigger European power metal acts out there. (review originally posted at metalmusicarchives.com)"