VII Gates - Fire, Walk With Me
Sound Riot Records - SRP.025 - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
VII Gates have been in existence since the middle of 1999, but due to a long and complicated history of band members leaving, being replaced, and in one case dying in a car crash, this is their first album. I suppose you've got to admire their tenacity - if I was in a band that couldn't keep a stable line-up or even release an album in the first five years of it's existence, I'd probably give up and go into accounting or something...
Still, they've made it at last, and released
Fire, Walk With Me onto the world. Sadly, it's not a musical interpretation of David Lynch's classic
Twin Peaks prequel movie, but instead a hard-rocking traditional heavy metal album bolstered by the appearance of a truly staggering number of guest musicians, including
Europe's Kee Marcello and
Arch Enemy's Chris Amott. However, don't expect any melodic death metal or hair-raising keyboard-led pop-metal anthems - this is pretty much straight
Judas Priest and
Hammerhead worship, with the odd exception.
'Seconds Left To Live' is like a re-enactment of Painkiller with a modern production, whereas 'So Far Away' has the dubious honour of beginning much in the mould of early
Bon Jovi before settling into a passably diverting power ballad effort. The production is crisp and crunchy, the riffs restrained and effective. The drums are a notable feature, eschewing the current obsession with double-bass and manic fills in favour of a more traditional, four-to-the-floor rock backbeat approach which complements the music excellently.
Generally, this is enjoyable but forgettable stuff. There's not really anything that grabs the attention and demands to be heard, but theres nothing that makes you want to snap the disc in two either. It's pretty disposable stuff, to be honest. Maybe a career in accountancy beckons after all...
6/10
Seven Gates Official Website
Sound Riot Records Website
