In the times as we are living, with fake news and mistaken info being spread as fire on dry chaff, it’s hard to know who are lying (besides a rapid looking on newspapers and trustable sources can clarify things). And lies in such way have only one goal: to manipulate people, especially when elections are near (yes, liars today want to force you to vote in those they want to earn bloody money). Such thing is a part of the concept which “Entity”, the new album of the Swedish Hard Rock quintet SEVENTH CRYSTAL, explores. The band uses a melodic and tender outfit on modern Hard Rock to have a deeper and ample commercial reach (or in other words, to bring new fans to their ranks).

But the instrumental tunes used by the quintet are filled with tunes that brings a heavy weight into the account (along with some NWOBHM touches, as heard on the guitar duets on “Thirteen to One”), and aggressive parts in some moments. It means that the band’s music explores different musical elements into Hard Rock, Melodic Rock and Heavy Metal (and even some Progressive Rock touches can be heard), but it isn’t hard to be heard and swallowed, and their songs bleed with young energy. The sonority chosen for the album is something modern, clean and defined, as their music demands, but’s not deprived of weight and aggressiveness. The things on studio worked on a way to bring the band to the edge of their efforts, so “Entity” has a strong and melodic impact since it begins to play.

After these words, it shows that all the songs of the album share a balanced inspiration, but every one of them with its own personality. And “Oathbreaker” (very good contrasts between melodic and electric guitar riffs with deeper moments with clean ones), “Thirteen to One” (some influences of Hard Rock of the 70s are heard in the mix, and what great guitar and vocals’ parts), “404”, “Path of the Absurd”, “Architects of Light” (there are touches of groove into the mix of this fine and melodic song adorned with keyboards arrangements) , “Interlude”, “Blinded by the Light” (a bone-crushing weight is felt here, with strong work on bass guitar and drums), “Siren Song” (an accessible and melodic moment with deeper feelings flowing from its melodies), “Versus”, “Mayflower” (many contrasts can be heard here, with accessible melodies meeting aggressive guitars), “Push Comes to Shove”, “A Place Called Home” (an accessible, yet intense, song filled with charming instrumental parts and excellent vocals), and “Song of the Brave” are moments that the fans will love, especially the younger ones.

“Entity” depicts that Swedish Hard Rock still has many things to be discovered on it, and SEVENTH CRYSTAL has a lot to offer.