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Reign In Metal
Zodiac :  Metal Reputation : 1
Join date : 2014-02-25
Location : Global Metal Domination
 | |  Seven Witches - Rebirth (2013) Album Review | |
Seven Witches - Rebirth (2013)
E1/Frostbyte Media -- Running Time 39:00
Score
8/10
Seven Witches are a US Power Metal band based in New Jersey, have been around a good few years now and are probably best known for having Helstar's James Rivera as vocalist for three of their albums. Since 1999 they have released eight impressive and solid studio albums (and also a live album), which is pretty good going by anyone's standards and really should be a better known name by now. I'm a fan but there is an issue and that is, for whatever reason, they have failed to keep anything like a stable lineup, with more members passing through their ranks than I've had hot dinners. Granted all of those ex members read like a who's who of US Power Metal but consistency is king!
Guitarist Jack Frost (Savatage, Belladonna, Metalium) is the only constant throughout their career and in 2012 he re-emerged with three new Seven Witches cohorts which has led to this, their ninth album 'Rebirth' It is very aptly titled as there is a change in style and I for one am extremely impressed with it. Gone are the out and out US Power Metal histrionics and vocals (ala Iced Earth) to be replaced by something all together more Traditional Heavy Metal and it works a treat. Forefront of that change is new vocalist Anthony Cross (Livesay, Fischel's Beast, Attacker) who has an excellent set of pipes, but is from the Russell Allen, David Wayne & Tony Martin school of singing rather than Rivera or, for instance, Matt Barlow. Those influences coupled with Frost's very good guitar work bring to mind a more Metal Church, Judas Priest, Adrenaline Mob and Headless Cross era Black Sabbath feel to 'Rebirth' than on previous albums. Add drummer John Kelly (Type O Negative, Danzig) and Bassist Ronnie Parkes (Farcry) and you have a considerably talented lineup!
There is a good mix of material here from the thumpingly good opener 'Man In The Mirror (Enemy Within) to 'Nightmare Man', which could sit nicely on Priest's 'Jugulator' or 'Demolition' albums. 'Murderer? (Hang 'em High)', 'True Blood', 'Head First' and the excellent title track all showcase this new sound extremely well and for those that think Seven Witches might have wimped out, well you would be wrong because it actually makes them sound heavier!
I really do hope that this rebirth in the Seven Witches ranks begins a stable and fruitful partnership because this band thoroughly deserve it. 'Rebirth' the album proves there is a heck of a lot left in the tanks yet and if you put those two things together then album number ten could well be an absolute corker!
http://sevenwitchesofficial.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seven-Witches-Official/185545834901482
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/rebirth/id660786884
Review written exclusively for Brutiful Entertainment by Rick Tilley
www.facebook.com/richard.tilley.351
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