CrossRocks - France
7th Heaven - Silver - Rating: 93/100
American 7th heaven seems to leave nowhere, and yet, it is necessary to go up with the 80' s to find the first traces of this combo
formed by the multi instrumentalist and type-setter Richie Hofherr. Do not believe therefore dealing with group of old routards firmly
anchored in their past, because the music of 7th Heaven does not have really anything obsolete in 2004.
It is in any case what this double coldly left Cd tends to prove!

This album, it is to some extent melody rock'n'roll hi-tech. 7th heaven uses many programming and samples in its arrangements,
but on first CD of this double album, the pieces pass without concern. The quality of the compos must facilitate the things much,
just as the voice of Andrew Blake which, without being exceptional from the point of view of its stamp, is appropriate perfectly for the
music of the group, and is used remarkably the touching aspect as titles like superb Medicated, Ghost Of Me or Trembling.
I am nevertheless impressed to see the number of superb titles on this first Cd, of the pieces in a spirit close to current Def Leppard
in more related to the programming. The majority of the melodies of the first 15 titles remain printed in the memory as of the first
listenings, sometimes the group mingles with it even a certain rage as on excellent Broken and On The Inside.
The second CD is on the other hand a little more disappointing, because missing a little cohesion and hot line. One passes thus from
pieces of pop rageuse (the very good Face The Terror), or traditional AOR with the Journey (the ballade I Still Need You) with some
more unexpected titles in a rather naked kind metal or even rap metal software (Truth and Breakin Me Up in particular)or new wave
typically 80' S (Everlasting Love). A cocktail so heteroclite that one finishes this second a little perplexed Cd with truth statement.

Second CD is a little to take as a no-claims bonus, an outline of the very eclectic tastes of the members of 7th heaven reserving of the remainder some good surprises. But the true interest of this double album is well first CD. A disc astounding of originality and freshness. Such point that one comes from there to wonder how 7th heaven could make with such a richness!

Highlights: Medicated, On The Inside, Ghost In Me, Broken, Gravity, Undone, Trembling, Face The Terror...

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