Seven Steps To The Green Door
progressive crossover music
current line up ( f.l.t.r. )
Andreas Gemeinhardt ( guit )
Sören Flechsig ( voc )
Marek Arnold ( keys, sax )
Anne Trautmann ( voc )
Robert Brenner ( bass )
Ulf Reinhardt ( drums )
( not on the picture: Jana Pöche – voc & George Andrade – lyrics )
line up 2019 (f.l.t.r.)
Ulf Reinhardt (drums, comp), Marek Arnold (keys, sax, comp), Jana Pöche (voc), Anne Trautmann (voc), Lars Köhler (voc), Martin Fankhänel (guit), Valentin Klose (bass)
ssttgd 2018
Marek Arnold (keys, sax, comp) , Ulf Reinhardt (drums, comp), Anne Trautmann (voc), Lars Köhler (voc),
Stephan Pankow ( guit ), Michael Schetter ( bass ), Jana Pöche ( vocals )
ssttgd 2015:
Martin Schnella (guitar, bass ), Marek Arnold (keys, sax, comp) , Anne Trautmann (voc), Lars Köhler (voc),
Ulf Reinhardt (drums, comp) , Thomas Schulz (live band – voc / keys), Heiko Rehm (live band – bass)
Seven Steps To The Green Door made their mark on the music scene at the German Rock and Pop Awards (2006), the largest and most prestigious band competition in Germany. When a debut album wins first prize in two categories (Progressive and Experimental Rock) it is definitely a band to keep a close eye on. The seven-member band was formed around keyboardist & saxophonist Marek Arnold, who is best known as the mastermind for Toxic Smile as well as his work with Cyril, Flaming Row, United Progressive Fraternity, Damanek, Stern Combo Meissen, and other prominent bands, and who is part of albums with stars like Steve Hacket and Jon Anderson; and drummer Ulf Reinhardt, formerly with Prophets of Prunes. The combined talents of these exceptional artists accounts for this unexpectedly successful first album, The Puzzle (2006) which comprised a wide-variety of style by mixing art-rock, progressive metal, jazz, rap, and pop. With the moderate use of cross-genre stylistic devices, a unique cast of three vocalists, and the courage to blend melody with rhythmic experiments, Seven Steps To The Green Door have amplified progressiveness in Progressive Rock.
With the release of Step In 2 My World, (2008) the band pushed their sound to extreme measures: poly-rhythmic meets melodious vocal harmonies, crazy jazz phrases followed by soft ballads, raps breaking through soft melodies – without ever losing sight of the golden thread that meshed the songs together. Additionally, various guests add highlights with classical instruments and vocals, including none other than Larry B., lead singer for Toxic Smile. Step In 2 My World will delight fans of varied rock music who will discover something new each time they listen to this complex album.
Progressive concept album, THE?BOOK, (2011) is the band’s most uncompromising creation so far. The album features, apart from the core band and other musical companions of Marek Arnold – a variety of great guest musicians such as multiple award winning vocal ensemble Sjaella, Larry B. and Flaming Row frontman, Martin Schnella, who has also worked with: Yes, Spock’s Beard and Shadow Gallery. Schnella joined Seven Steps To The Green Door for live gigs in 2012. Also, a remarkable point about THE?BOOK, it was one of the first ever progressive rock albums to be converted into an interactive game for iOS–devices (iphone/ipad), programmed by Glanzkinder.
Seven Steps To The Green Door fans had been excited for release of their next album “FETISH”, of which the final tracks were recorded in Spring/2015. Written by Marek Arnold and Ulf Reinhardt, featuring Martin Schnella on guitar; the editing took place at Mareks, B`side-music studios; mixing was done by Martin Schnella and Marek Arnold at Overlodge Recording Studios. Released at our label Progressive Promotion Records again it featured some amazing guests like Arno Menses ( voc, Subsignal ), Dan Mash ( bass, UPF, Maschine, Ex-Tangent), Justo Suarez ( perc), Steve Unruh ( UPF, Resistor ) and many others…
After the great success of that album, ssttgd was on FETISH tour until 2017. We already played amazing gigs at festivals like “Night of the Prog” (DE), “Crescendo” (FR), “Artrockfestival” (DE) or “Summers End” (UK) and other venues in Europe.
NEW ALBUM “THE?LIE”
Seminal progressive crossover band “seven steps to the green door” from Germany is back with the new album “THE?LIE” – the second part of their concept trilogy “THE?BOOK”, in which authors and band deal critically with religious fanaticism.
With “THE?LIE”, ssttgd are once again proving that they are among the most innovative and creative bands in the genre – and in George Andrade, the band was able to convince and win over a lyricist for the concept, who developed a compelling lyricbook, with stirring and disturbing lyrics, out of Thoralf Koss’ story. To match the intriguing storyline, some outstanding members of the progrock scene were ensembled to take on the roles of the characters and to perform the instrumental parts: British multi-instrumentalist and singer Pete Jones (Tiger Moth Tales, Camel, Francis Dunnery Band) delivers stunning vocals as the “Father”; gifted guitarist Luke Machin (including Maschine, The Tangent, Francis Dunnery Band, Damanek …) played and arranged most guitar parts; Steve Unruh (Resistor, UPF, Samurai of Prog) and Jason Melidonie (Cytotoxin) added brilliant violin and guitar solos. That’s just to name but a few.
The album, produced by Marek Arnold and mixed / mastered by Martin Schnella ( Flaming Row, Mau & Schnella, ssttgd ), was released by Progressive Promotion Records on April 30, 2019.
George Andrade explains: ” “THE?LIE” is a new rock opera/concept album that I’ve co-written with the magnificent Seven Steps to the Green Door, the second album of a proposed trilogy**.
It tells the story of a family intimately caught up in the fanatic actions of their religious leaders, their church “fathers”, and the unfolding tragedy that befalls them all, while having to reconcile their faith turned religion with the repercussions of those fanatic actions committed in their God’s name, and coming to terms with the divergent and symbiotic relationship of a faith’s moral authority with the political realities of administrating and growing any organized religion…
I think “THE?LIE” contains some of my best and most ambitious writing for music to date (I hope you’ll agree), and combined with the stellar performances of the musicians and vocalist assembled for this record, I’m confident you’ll be entertained, thrilled, and ultimately moved by the musical experience…”
Third part of the trilogy will be released in 2024 and complete the story…
all albums can be ordered at our band camp shop!