Artist: A.C.T. Album: Silence (2006) Label: InsideOut Music Website: http://www.actworld.nu Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: 1. Truth Is Pain (4:11) 2. Puppeteers (4:15) 3. This Wonderful World (4:22) 4. Out Of Ideas (4:48) 5. Hope (4:30) 6. Into The Unknown (3:56) 7. No Longer Touching Ground (4:12) 8. Useless Argument (4:49) 9. The Voice Within (3:55) 10. Call In Dead (2:49) CONSEQUENCES: 11. Silent Screams (2:00) 12. Introduction (:53) 13. The Millionaire (2:12) 14. Joanna (3:11) 15. A Father's Love (2:34) 16. Memory To Fight (2:45) 17. The Diary (3:12) 18. A Wound That Won't Heal (4:34) 19. The Final Silence (1:32) Silence is the fourth album from this young Swedish band, and their first on InsideOut Music. The album is divided in half; the first half consists of 10 individual tracks, while the second half is an epic dealing with the tragic story of a young woman desperately wanting a child, and the consequences of her actions. The epic has an overreaching title of “Consequences,” and is in 9 parts. Musically the band is seemingly influenced by the harder side of prog rock; bands like Muse, Saga, 1980’s Rush (albeit with less emphasis on keyboard textures) feature in their sound, with a healthy dose of Queen like pomp. Surprisingly, A.C.T. doesn’t necessarily sound like any of them, which is refreshing in a time where bands often sound like they wear their influences on their sleeves. Their music is melodic, catchy, and very hook laden without being overtly constructed. Lots of multiple vocal parts pepper A.C.T.’s music. This is heard to good effect on “Puppeteers,” a well crafted song that should get airplay in a perfect world. In fact, much the same could be said for many of the songs in the first half of the album. Excellent keyboards (courtesy of Jerry Sahlin) and a ripping guitar solo (from Ola Andersson) are highlights on “Hope.” There’s a strong 1970’s feel on a lot of the songs, tempered with modern sounds and production values. If Saga and Queen got together and had a baby, it would sound like A.C.T. The 23-minute long epic “Consequences” opens the second half with quiet keyboards, gently played acoustic guitar and strings, leading into a much heavier sound than evidenced earlier in the album on the opening movement, “Silent Screams”. The band maintains their diversity, with shifting mood and sound, shades of light and dark, the peace of gentle acoustic sections broken by heavy distorted guitar and overdriven keyboards, only to fade back into gentle shade. A.C.T.’s hallmarks remain true here; layered vocals evoke positive comparisons to early Queen, effortless melodies flow from the speakers. “Joanna,” titled after the subject of the piece, is laden with keyboards and extremely dynamic, hitting window and wall shaking timbres. “A Father’s Love” is another quiet movement, with sweet high tenor vocals and a gentle melody that still offers a hint of darkness underneath. The piece concludes with “The Final Silence,” where the piece’s main theme is echoed one last mournful time. A.C.T. is a young band growing from strength to strength. Silence is a powerful release, showcasing a band willing to write memorable songs that stick, like earworms, in your brain for days after listening. Jerry Sahlin (Keyboards, Vocals) Ola Andersson (Guitars, Vocals) Peter Asp (Bass, Guitar) Herman Saming (Lead Vocals) Thomas Lejon (Drums)