Seven Thorns – Return To The Past

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Baffling. That’s the only word for it. It is utterly baffling how so many bands can so blatantly copy the same power metal blueprint: that specific type of power metal that sounds fast and high in pitch, and ever so sickly sweet. If you’ve heard one such record you’ve really heard them all. This is the case with Danish power metal band Seven Thorns. Frankly you could switch this band’s music with a wide range of other generic power metal bands and you’d be none the wiser for it. Powerquest, Emerald Sun, Symfonia… just a few of the bands that have released music in the last couple of months, all with the same stale sound. This wouldn’t be such a bad thing if this sound had much going for it, but it’s a very thin sound that doesn’t carbon-copy well. Return To The Past isn’t a particularly well produced album either, feeling very second rate when compared to the similar In Paradisum by Symfonia released not long ago (itself not particularly outstanding). Seven Thorns add nothing of note to the sound, and come across like a band that have no original ideas of their own. None of their material stands out, it’s just bland, unoriginal and generic cheerful power metal. This all being said, at least it’s still listenable, and still a fair bit better than the likes of Emerald Sun. But without anything to distinguish itself, Return To The Past proves to be an instantly forgettable album by a rather forgettable band. Power metal fans deserve more than this.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Power Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Seven Thorns