Add in a huge, killer chorus and this song is lethal and then some. Â€œStick The Knife In And Twistâ€ is every bit as sharp and cutting as its title suggests, Morgensteinâ€™s powering beat initially disguising a subtle, invasive melody line that does indeed get right under the skin. From there a foot is never put wrong, some insightful and at times world weary lyrics sitting perfectly atop a musicality that most bands operating in this arena could only dream of. With backing vocals that feel aligned to the expert arranging Kip brings to his solo work, itâ€™s a heady introduction, but the more brooding â€œHeavenâ€™s Fallingâ€ proves a clever counterpoint. Â€œProud Desperadoâ€ is a mighty way to begin, a guttural riff sparking and deadly as it ushers in Kipâ€™s character driven vocals - Beach and Roth still a mighty six-string duo who are often augmented further by the fret work of keyboard player Paul Taylor. Seven might just top the lot, although overhauling Pull as this bandâ€™s defining statement is a task and half.

If you havenâ€™t been keeping up with the band and still connect them with the bullshit that heralded in grunge and the musical boredom that ensued, then youâ€™ve missed out on some truly great albums from this outfit. Thankfully thatâ€™s the only thing about this release that feels even vaguely uninspired, because the music that Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Rod Morgenstein, Paul Taylor and John Roth have conjured up here is nothing short of majestic.

OK, as album titles go, Seven ainâ€™t the most imaginative and it feels almost superfluous to mention that this is the seventh album from hard rock veterans Winger.

Sea of tranquility review