A while back I reviewed a demo called Temple In The Storm, from a very promising young Swedish progressive metal group called SEVENTH WONDER. Since then, I have had the pleasure of seeing them live twice - once at Pub Anchor, a famous hardrock club in Stockholm, and the other time at KTH, a correctional institution, eh... sorry, an institute for higher learning, also in Stockholm. It is of this occasion I now want to tell, so buckle up kiddies.
I arrived at the venue (which is very much an incorrect term in this case, the place being a sort of student's pub, there being a makeshift stage rigged for the evening. SEVENTH WONDER was the second band to take the stage, the first one being a somewhat poppy affair called EPIC SUN with girlie vocals), pretty early, with a very good friend, which made sure the evening got off to a good start. Being surrounded by students is almost always nice, since they have a pretty decent view of what's going down with young people's economy, thus preventing the personnel from overcharging the beer... but I digress. Let's get to the point now, shall we?

:: SEVENTH WONDER :: is a band with a future. Rumours have it that they are in negotiations with a major German label, and after seeing them onstage, one is in no doubt as to why this might be the case. Playing only six songs this evening, the set is rather short, but then again, it is not about quantity, but quality. We are treated to such gems as Temple In The Storm and The Secret off their glorious demo, so cherished by yours truly, but also two new songs called The Damned and Behold My Dreams that are somewhat more up-tempo and easier to digest, therefore making them ideal live songs. Which only goes to show that the guys know the importance of variety. Mixing more progressive pieces, like those of the demo, with these newer, more direct songs, they manage to appeal to a lot of senses/tastes within the connoisseurs of the genre, me being only too happy with this decision, since I'm an avid fan of both progressive and more direct melodic power metal. Well enough about me now, right? Right...

A bonus song, that is available off the offical website is also given a very catchy interpretation this night. The song is called Day By Day, and if I have any say in the future recording process of the debut album - that is as inevitable as cancer - this song WILL be included, because it is, simply put, brilliant, tonight's live show only making it even more accessible. The crowd is rocking like hell. The crowd screams, shouts, scores, and frontman Andi Kravljaca waves his fist in the air like there is no tomorrow. Basser Andreas Blomkvist has a pretty large John Myung (Dream Theater) signature bass, but he handles it with gusto, the rest of the band giving their respective instruments the exact same treatment. Unfortunately the sound guy must have had a pretty decent plutionium dinner this evening, rounding it off with some severe shots of gasoline, because on and off the band suffers a total loss of feedback from the monitors. This is not something the audience notices, however, because the guys are such avid players, they just keep on rocking until the sound comes back, but I can imagine what it is like, being a professional musician, when you're on stage and the feedback just... dies. But everyone has fun, Andi has the listeners in the palm of his hand (and on the brim of his rather cool black ranger's hat), and once the set is over, the verdict is pretty much unanimous amongst the audience, and everyone is pretty much thinking the same thing - time to go home and get some clean underwear...
And oh yeah, I forgot to mention the cover they did of Rainbow's Gates Of Babylon. Yeah. They played it, they slayed, and I was in the bathroom, unfortunately, 'cause I badly needed to take a piss (courtesy of the very friendly beer prices). This is something I'll try not to do again during a Seventh Wonder set, however. Once can simply not afford to miss one second! Hats off to the band! (No, you can keep yours on, Andi...)