What do you need when you are putting together a progressive metal band? Very skilful musicians, a very good vocalist and a good production...

Well all of the ingredients are in place on this album from Section A. Torben Enevoldsen is handling all of the song writing, guitars and keyboards - and he delivers some awesome licks, shredding and leads on the guitar all over this very good album, backing him up is new guy: Johan Koleberg (Ex-Lion's Share), who replaced Andreas Lill (Vanden Plas) and Pontus Egberg on bass. Like on their first album vocalist Andy Engberg shines, he has one the best voices in progressive metal, he's a perfect fit for Torben's music.

Maybe some of you remember their debut album from 2003 "The Seventh Sign" (on Lion Music)? This new one is a big step forward, everything seems to be better worked out and the album has a better production. This album has so much to offer; great songs, great vocal performances, some excellent guitar leads and so on...

Do yourself a favour and at least take a hard listen to this album, when it hit the streets...

Recommended: "Dark Alliance", "Hoping for a Miracle" & " Beginning of the End"

The Seventh Sign - Section A - (Lion Music, 2003)

Score: 85/100 [ESSENTIAL] - Review by The Atomic Chaser @ Dedicated Rocker Productions

An auditory mind blowing experience is what awaits you once you hear the remarkable debut release ,'Seventh Sign'on Lion Music Records from prog rocks latest juggernauts, Section A. Section A is, Torben Enevoldsen on guitar, bass and keyboard. Andy Engberg (Lion's Share) on vocals and Andreas Lill (Vanden Plas) on drums. Adding to the progressive ambience are keyboard virtuosos, Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) and Gunter Werno (Vanden Plas). If you ever wonder what it would be like to have your psyche sucked down a rabbit hole and brought a state of musical suspended animation, listening to this CD will be the next best thing. Section A's 'Seventh Sign' is a complex mix of hard rock fused with an aggressive blend of progressive arrangements that will your senses in a state of euphoric splendor. I was very impressed with Torben Enevoldsen's music genius. Especially his guitar playing. Very dynamic and energetic that at times reminded me of such players like, Tony MaCalpine and Shawn Lane. Though his playing may echo these great players, make no doubt Torben is definitely in a league all his own. As is evident on the title track that opens the CD. Between Torben's stellar guitar work, Andy Engberg's powerful vocals and Andreas Lill's precession drumming, it was obvious to me that this trio's chemistry was as tight as a glove. The musical arrangements on songs like, "Pray For Rain" and "The Man In The Mirror", simply blew me away. Every song on this CD has its own character and personality. 'Seventh Sign' is the kind of album that you put on and let its music take you where ever it wants to. Knowing that, when you finish listening, it was a musical experience that blew you away would love to take over and over again. They say first impressions are everything and my first impression of Section A is progressive rock trio that has taken the genre onto the next level. This one band that you will be hearing about it a lot in the years to come. They also say actions speak louder that words. Get your hands on Section A's, 'Seventh Sign' and experience what musical brilliance is all about for yourselves.

Section A - The Seventh Sign (Lion Music, 2003)

Score: 100/100 [JAWDROPPER!!] - Review By Luigi Cisaria

Torben Enevoldsen - all guitars; keyboards and bass, Andy Engberg - vocals, Andreas Lill - drums

Special Guests: Derek Sherinian - keyboard solos on 'The Seventh Sign' and 'Nightmare', Gunter Werno - keyboard solo on 'Tomorrow'

Touting a band as being a supergroup can be a dangerous business. Immediately you assume that the quality is going to be right up there, considering the calibre of musicians involved. Section A is definitely made of some heavyweights from the melodic prog metal community. Torben Enevoldsen has carved out a distinguished solo career. Andreas Lill is a member of German prog metal giants Vanden Plas. Vocalist Andy Engberg was a long time member of Lions Share. Add Derek Sherinian and Gunter Werno and it's a very impressive mix. What is even more impressive is their album 'Seventh Sign'. I'd prefer to leave it at that and urge you to get what could quite easily be the album of the year. If I don't want my editor to kick my butt, I'm going to have to come up with a few more words than that.

Section A is the dream of Enevoldsen who wanted to release an all vocal album, with musicians that he had a desire to work with. Hence the inclusion of Engberg, Lill, Sherinian and Werno. As Pagans Mind did last year, Section A has taken melodic progressive metal to a completely new level. Fans of Lions Share, Vanden Plas and Torben's work won't have any problems taking in Section A. 'The Seventh Sign' gets off to a monstrous start with the title track, full of crunching riffs, swirling proggy keyboards and Torben decimating his fretboard. You better run for cover when the next track hits as there's a 'Riot' coming. A stunning, rampaging melodic metal anthem that has a soaring solo in the mid-section.

'Pray For Rain' is essentially a power ballad. Andy's vocals really are quite exceptional. Torben adds some Jim Matheos style riffing to his arsenal on 'Nightmare', and there's a very smooth pre-chorus and chorus stacked with harmony. The longest track and most progressive is 'Tomorrow'. There are a number of time changes and fusion soloing. The chorus has the stamp of Lions Share. 'Man In The Mirror' is a mid-tempo melodic rocker with a very catchy chorus. By now I'm struggling to find any more superlatives to describe Section A. So, bugger it. The final two tracks, 'Killing Fields' and 'Into The Fire' are just as good as anything that's gone before them.

Though Torben wanted a full vocal album, there are many moments during 'The Seventh Sign' when he stakes a strong claim to being one of the best seven stringers in the business. His solo runs are incredibly fluid, melodic and jaw droppingly good. If you stand his keyboard work up next to Sherinian and Werno, he's no slouch at that either. The work of the aforementioned keyboard wizards is also exemplary. Andy Engberg already had a great reputation as a vocalist, and that will be solidified even more with his faultless and impassioned delivery. Mention also needs to be made of the stunning artwork and packaging, and whether it is the artwork or the music, these guys can do no wrong. The book of progressive metal is being rewritten and it starts with Section A.

Section A - The Seventh Sign

Review by D.Cockett

Some of you may remember Danish guitarist Torben Enevoldsen from his two solo albums – the latter (2001’s ‘Heavy Persuasion’) being especially noteworthy. Realising that regardless of the quality, instrumentals can only command a fraction of the market however, Enevoldsen embarked on an all vocal project which has eventually evolved into Section A. Boasting the talents of former Lion’s Share vocalist Andy Engberg and Vanden Plas drummer Adreas Lill (as well as guest keyboard appearances from Derek Sherinian and Lill’s Vanden Plas colleague Gunter Werno), debut album ‘The Seventh Sign’ is a passion drenched magnum opus which perfectly marries the demands of hard rock melody with the technical finesse of progressive metal. Imagine a razor sharp, gloriously hooky combination of Lion’s Share, Vanden Plas and Ring Of Fire, and you’ll begin to see the potential that songs such as ‘Riot’, ‘Pray For Rain’, and ‘Killing Fields’ possess. Engberg is (as usual) on top form throughout, and as for Enevoldsen – hi playing is nothing short of inspired! Throw in some great moody keyboard solos from aforementioned Sherinian and Werno, and you have all the hallmarks of a classic in the making! Here’s to the start of what will hopefully be a long and fruitful union – brilliant!

Section A - The seventh sign - (Lion music)

Score: 9/10 - Review by Teddy Jonasson @ Level 11

I wasn't that impressed by this album at first, but the more I listened the better it sounded, and now I love it. I should have realised this, it contains one of my absolut favourite guitarplayers. The Danish guy Torben Enevoldsen. Hes fantastic! With a singer like Andy Engberg and a drummer like Andreas Lill, and guest appereances from Derek Sherinian and Günter Werno this album just needed good songs. And so it has. A really superb album, Enevoldsen are a rising star on the metal heaven...

Section A - The Seventh Sign - (Lion Music)

Score: 5/5 - Review by Jason Brown @ Friday 13th

Well this is to me the best Progressive Metal album of 2003, it has everything that a Prog album should have and especially if you like the Scandinavian sound mixed with the unique sound of Tony Macalpine, as guitarist Torben Enevoldsen shows. This album is without doubt one of the best album in the Prog Metal secene to come out this year, the songs are well arranged, some awesome melodies, in fact I can't fault this awesome album, it's perfect and I think it's going to be hard to beat on the next album. Joining this awesome guitar play is ex Lions Share front man/ Twilight Andy Engberg, who in my opinion should be up there with people like Jorn Lande, a great singer to say the least and also on drums is Vanden Plas Andreas Lill and special guest on keyboards Derek Sherinian & Gunter Werno. The production is faultless and the songs are beautifully arranged, all the instruments and vocal arrangements all blend together well. Ever song on this album is a masterpiece which includes 8 trax. I highly recommend this gem, it's without doubt the best or one of the best Prog albums of 2003, buy!!!

Section A - The Seventh Sign - (Lion Music, 2003)

Review by Jedd Beaudoin @ ytsejam.com

Because I loved Ark’s Burn The Sun album as much as I did, I can’t help but think of this album as a logical successor to that record. It’s not that Section A aren’t working their own niche in the world, it’s just more that vocalist Andy Engberg has a grasp on the kind of emotive leanings that Jorn Lande (ex-Ark vocalist) has his throat all wrapped around. Things are also helped along by the fact that guitarist/keyboardist/bassist Torben Enevoldsen’s riffs are first class and that drummer Andreas Lill has his role down tight as a vault.

As great as the guys are on their own the record is greatly aided by two guest soloists: Gunter Werno (keyboards), who raises “Tomorrow” to new heights (and pushes Enevoldsen to new heights of performance), and Derek Sherinian who rips listeners a brand-new earhole on “The Seventh Sign” and “Nightmare.” Whereas some bands might invite guest performers to cover their deficits, that’s clearly not the case here. Werno and Sherinian step in and add just another layer of icing to the all-ready tasty proceedings.

Kudos to Lion Music to have the foresight to scoop these guys up. If only more would have the stones to follow suite.

Section A - The Seventh Sign

Review by R. Scott Bolton @ roughedge.com

Guitarist Torben Enevoldsen has deservedly enjoyed some very positive reviews here on the pages of Rough Edge (click here to read them) and we were excited to learn that he had put a band together and was planning a full-length, non-instrumental CD.

What was even more exciting was to discover that the end result, the first CD by Enevoldsen's band Section A, is such a tremendous success.

Enlisting the superb talents of Vanden Plas drummer Andreas Lill and vocalist Andy Engberg, the trio have created a stunningly powerful melodic metal CD with a heavy prog background. Not only are the eight songs here brilliantly written and performed, they are sophisticated and intricate, buoyed by simply outstanding production by Enevoldsen and intelligent, emotional lyrics by Engberg and Conny Welen.

As one might expect, Enevoldsen's guitar work is nothing short of stellar here, giving each song a full complex life of its own. Enevoldsen's fretwork is technically exact but he knows when to loosen up and give his music some soul, too - something that too few shredders remember is of utmost importance. In addition, producer Enevoldsen knows when guitars should at the forefront, when the vocals should be and when other instruments should take the lead. Ego has no place here - the choice is always made by what's best for the music.

Of course, the whole point of Section A was to step away from Enevoldsen's brilliant solo work and to create a full band. With the legendary talents of Lill behind the kit and Engberg's smooth yet strong, rich voice at the microphone, Section A's sound is near perfect. It reminds me of bit of bands like Ten, Dream Theater and the recent works of Gary Hughes.

Add to the mix guest appearances by Derek Sherinian (Planet X) and Günter Werno (Vanden Plas) and "The Seventh Sign" becomes even richer. Great stuff, indeed.

Fans of melodic metal and progressive rock of any kind will thrill to Section A's "The Seventh Sign."

For more information, check out http://www.torbenenevoldsen.com

Section A - The Seventh Sign

Review by Mike Ostrich @ progscape.com

Part of the cool thing (or an awful thing, depending on your point of view) about having a website is that you get free CDs from people who want reviews on your site. 95% of the material you receive isn't worth the disc it's recorded on. With that being said, I should probably let you, the reader, know that I have a odd fascination and major appreciation with progressive metal...when done correctly. From Rush to Dream Theater, the cross of Metallica and Yes always seems to have worked for me...when done well. So, when I received this disc from Lion Music, and saw that members from Vanden Plas and Planet X are on it, I had to listen! Needless to say, I'm not disappointed.

Section A is led by Torben Enevoldsen on guitars/bass/keys, Andreas Lill (Vanden Plas) on drums, and Andy Engberg (ex-Lion's Share) on vocals. Not to be outdone, Derek Sherinian (Planet X, ex-Dream Theater) was brought on to do keyboard solos on two tracks (Nightmare and the title track) and fellow Vander Plas member Gunter Werno does a keyboard solo on Tomorrow.

So, enough of the namedropping, how does the album sound? DAMN GOOD, I say! It's progressive metal, so that should give you an indication as to the style of the disc. The vocals are featured on this album (most of Torben's recordings have been purely instrumental) and reminds this reviewer of, let's be honest, your typical prog-metal vocalist...but Andy seems to know what his vocal range can (and, more important, can not) reach. One of the "drawbacks" I have to many prog-metal bands is the vocalist seems to have this "how high can I sing?" syndrome which totally ruins many songs. Thankfully, Andy knows better and doesn't try this dangerous game.

What impresses me a great deal on this record is Torben's guitar work, but not in the way that you would expect. What I specifically mean is that his guitar playing is totally in-line for the groove or mood that the song is incorporating. He doesn't play to just be heard or to wank all over the place; he solos when the song calls for it. It's a vocal album, and Torben's guitarwork shows that he's adept to just playing a groove or a melody if the song calls for it.

Overall, if you like your progressive metal w/out cheesy vocals, then this might be your cup of tea! Excuse me while I put this disc on "repeat" and get myself another drink of tea...