Album Release 28. June 2024
"Seven Steps to the Green Door" are back! With their 6th album, the German progressive crossover band led by Marek Arnold (e.g. Artrock Project, Toxic Smile, CYRIL, Damanek) and Ulf Reinhardt completes their "?" trilogy with the final chapter "The Truth".
The highly acclaimed first chapter ("The?BOOK") of the Magnum Opus, consisting of a profound, critical story about religious fanaticism by Thoralf Koss - provided with a complete storybook by American author George Andrade - and a multi-layered musical realization, almost as a "rock opera", in the crossroads of art rock to progressive metal, was released back in 2011. The second part followed in 2019 with "THE?LIE", the heaviest and darke part of the concept in terms of both music and lyrics.
Now, 15 years after work on the Opus began, "THE?TRUTH" concludes the story of Samuel and his father with the most stylistically diverse part. A veritable firework of musical ideas, exciting arrangements and a total of 12 characters / singers, including well-known guests such as Peter Jones (Camel, Tiger Moth Tales), Manuel Schmid (Stern Combo Meissen), Larry B. (Toxic Smile) and Elisabeth Markstein (Alphaville). Impressively, a last, big exclamation mark is set.
"The Truth" will not only be released on CD as usual on 28 June 2024 - the trilogy will also be released as an elaborate "Artbook" in vinyl format with all 3 albums on CD and a complete, extensive printed history including lyrics.
Tracklist:
1. Revelations 5:21
2. Africa 15:31
3. Hearing Voices 5:15
4. Alpha & Omega III 9:00
5. The Arrest 3:02
6. Hallucinations 6:18
7. Hearts On Strings 8:56
8. When You Get To See Me 4:14
9. Hear My Voice 6:29
10. A Dream That Stayed 7:32
Lineup / Artists
Musicians:
- Marek Arnold (keyboards, saxophones, seaboard)
- Ulf Reinhardt (drums, percussions)
- Robert Brenner (bass guitars)
- Martin Fankhänel (electric and acoustic guitars)
additional bass parts by Denis Strassburg and Sören Müller
Vocalists
Lars Köhler – as Samuel
Peter Jones – as Father
Anne Trautmann – as Evangeline
Jana-Christina Pöche – as Mother
Sören Flechsig – as Noah
Larry B. - as Grandfather
Manuel Schmid – as The Acolyte
Amelie Hofmann – as Missa
Elisabeth Markstein – as Shelena
Annemarie Schmidt – as Evangeline´s Mother
Carolin Koss – as Caro
Micha Heinzig - Growls (Grandfather)
Robert Brenner – as The Police
George Andrade – as The Priest
Marek Arnold – as Village Man
concept: Thoralf Koß & Marek Arnold
Original story: Thoralf Koss
Storyline / Narration: George Andrade
Lyrics: George Andrade
Music: Marek Arnold, Martin Fankhänel, Ulf Reinhardt
Vocal lines: Marek Arnold, Sören Flechsig, Lars Köhler, Ulf Reinhardt
recorded and edited by Marek Arnold ( B`side-music, Remse ) and Ulf Reinhardt ( ssttgd studio Thalheim )
mixed / mastered by Martin Schnella (Overlodge recording studio)
Produced by Marek Arnold & Ulf Reinhardt
