There is nothing more rewarding for a music journalist who can say I have reviewed every release from a band. One of my favorite bands dating back to 2017, Seven Spires is releasing their fourth masterpiece called A Fortress Called Home. Each album has been unique in their own but one hundred percent Seven Spires. I never know how to classify these guys since their music encompasses so many genres, so I just must call them a melting pot of Symphonic, Gothic, Progressive, and Melodic Death Metal. They are eloquently fronted by Adrienne Cowen whose voice can climb to heights at which only angels dream of reaching and in a note dive to the depths where demons wallow. Peter de Reyna leads the rhythm section with a bass sound and skill that leaves him underrated as one of the best out there today. Jack Kosto blazes on guitar and helps set the stage for the stories that Adrienne tells.
A Fortress Called Home follows a similar and successful path as previous releases. It starts with the theatrical intro that shares the same name as the album. With orchestration that compares to that of a mystical adventure, the listener is catapulted directly into the journey. “Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues” entrenches the listener with vocal mastery and includes orchestration found on Seven Spires previous albums. The song shares a similar vibe as an early Avantasia song. “Almosttown” is next and the albums first single. The song carries a classic Seven Spires sound, and it makes sense it was the first single. The song purposefully winds through pace changes and mainly showcases the angelic side of Adrienne’s voice in the beginning but eventually navigates to her alter ego demonic like voice. The most amazing part about this song is when both of her voices are layered on each other at the same time.
“Impossible Tower” doesn’t even try to give any sense of hope and screams despair from beginning to end. Dark clouds may form over the listener while listening to this song but don’t fear there is a ray of light shining through as the jazzy and bluesy “Love’s Souvenir” pulls the listener just far enough out of the fire. Bassist Peter de Reyna bass skills shine in this song. As the song sonders to about the halfway point, it then drastically shifts back to the depths of hell. This song is over six minutes so the listener will get plenty of song to relish. “Architect of Creation” is a song that could have easily been a hold back from their third album Gods Of Debauchery. The song encapsulates a Fleshgod Apocalypse sound. Diablolical lyrics are scattered throughout this beast. Making it one of my favorites on the album:
“Fear Me
Love Me
Do a I say
For I will be the keeper of your soul
To whom you Pray
Death was never so empowering
The lost are mine for the devouring
The world of drowned is mine to shape I, the Architect of Creation”
“Portrait of Us” has a throwback sound back to Emerald Seas. Softer vocally with a powerful beat guiding the song. It carries a very powermetal inspired sound.
“Emerald Necklace” is a song that would fit in the power ballade category. Some of the most inspiring vocals coat this songs lyrics.
“Where Sorrows Bear My Name” is one of the most badass song names I have heard in a long time. I love the layers of Adrienne’s voice in this song. It sounds as though as she is doing a duet with herself. The song has very doomlike undertones which lend perfectly to her voice variations. “No Place for Us” transitions the album back to a more upbeat place with some hope. Showcasing some of the best musicianship on the album, both Jack and Peter guide the listener safely to the next song, “House of Lies.” The song showcases a battle we all face at some point in our life. Next is “The Old Hurt of Being Left Behind.” The last song on the album. This track crescendos the whole essence of the album with pace changes and vocal variations that leave the listener in the caldron of life to sort out the adventure they just traveled for the last hour. Be sure to pay attention to the vocal layers as well to orchestration while listening to this song. Not to be forgotten on this album is the master of the Drumkit, Chris Dovas. His beats help carry songs from beginning to end.
A Fortress Called Home will mesmerize the listener with its vocal beauty but beware it can be dangerous for the faint of heart. The journey will quickly descend into the depths of depression, leaving only a sliver of hope. Perseverance and determination are needed to guide the listener to the end of this masterpiece. As Solveig introduced the music of Seven Spires to the world, A Fortress Called Home will secure their legacy amongst the greats of our time. A Fortress Called Home is available today via Frontier Records.
