New album: Sevenoneself (The Treasure of the Crucible)

When I joined a few weeks ago, I put at the top of my welcome post that I joined with the purpose of promoting an album I recently made. I'm sure you get many of these--people hopping in and out just to make a buck. So I wanted to contribute a bit, get to know what's going on here. I'm having a good time; I've already listened to more bands than I thought existed!

The short story behind this album: I'm a pastor who had a nervous breakdown and will probably never be able to return to ministry. I'm on long-term disability and spend days helping out around home, making meals, and watching a lot of TV. I grew up in a musical family and play many instruments; I always dreamed of being a Christian rock star, but it wasn't in the cards for me. About 7 years ago I started recording some songs I'd written back in high school as a way to spend my days instead of just watching movies. I became interested in recording better and ate up all the content from Graham Cochrane (Christian guy!) at the Recording Revolution. I have a few good Christian friends who are great musicians, and they gave me some feedback. As the years went by, the quality of my playing, editing, and mixing increased; I began to see that the album might be of commercial quality. After 7 years--with many gaps of weeks and months when I didn't work on it at all--it's completed! 

As most of you know, an artist is incomplete until others receive and experience that art. So I've been looking for ways to find people who may enjoy, appreciate, and give critiques so if there's a next album it can be better. And so I've found you guys! I'm hoping you'll take time to listen to a song or two, or the whole album; and I'm trusting you'll enjoy it and be ministered to by the music.
Thanks for your interest and care!

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There's some teasers and lyric videos on my YouTube channel if you're not ready to commit an hour to listen to the whole thing: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbm9jHmX2yH9CefP__JhhAA.

You can stream on pretty much every music platform. Here's some quick links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1618848128
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ELOs4w8eldQwY6XSi8Y0V?si=n160H0sxTpS7ibs_v9XR8g
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/artists/B09XQGK7FY?ref=dm_sh_caa3-3616-0d94-c286-adac6
Youtube Music : https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m2OaGRoP4nvMsE2z7xKE4Pz5VjcfTuVGM
Bandcamp: https://sevenoneself.bandcamp.com

Welcome to the CMR!

I seem to be having issues getting any of the sites to work.  I will figure it out and take a listen, though.

Listened to a few songs, not too bad. I know this is on a budget so this is just friendly advice but I would suggest beefing up the bottom end and expanding the dynamics. I like the lyrics, very personal yet full of hope.

Black Rider wrote:Listened to a few songs, not too bad. I know this is on a budget so this is just friendly advice but I would suggest beefing up the bottom end and expanding the dynamics. I like the lyrics, very personal yet full of hope.

Thanks for this. I ended up retro-actively boosting the low end, and the mastering helped as well. In my early days of mixing I got too excited about the hi-pass filter, and even though I went back and fixed as much as I could it's still a bit weak.

Sevenoneself wrote:When I joined a few weeks ago, I put at the top of my welcome post that I joined with the purpose of promoting an album I recently made. I'm sure you get many of these--people hopping in and out just to make a buck. So I wanted to contribute a bit, get to know what's going on here. I'm having a good time; I've already listened to more bands than I thought existed!

The short story behind this album: I'm a pastor who had a nervous breakdown and will probably never be able to return to ministry. I'm on long-term disability and spend days helping out around home, making meals, and watching a lot of TV. I grew up in a musical family and play many instruments; I always dreamed of being a Christian rock star, but it wasn't in the cards for me. About 7 years ago I started recording some songs I'd written back in high school as a way to spend my days instead of just watching movies. I became interested in recording better and ate up all the content from Graham Cochrane (Christian guy!) at the Recording Revolution. I have a few good Christian friends who are great musicians, and they gave me some feedback. As the years went by, the quality of my playing, editing, and mixing increased; I began to see that the album might be of commercial quality. After 7 years--with many gaps of weeks and months when I didn't work on it at all--it's completed! 

As most of you know, an artist is incomplete until others receive and experience that art. So I've been looking for ways to find people who may enjoy, appreciate, and give critiques so if there's a next album it can be better. And so I've found you guys! I'm hoping you'll take time to listen to a song or two, or the whole album; and I'm trusting you'll enjoy it and be ministered to by the music.
Thanks for your interest and care!

--------------------------

There's some teasers and lyric videos on my YouTube channel if you're not ready to commit an hour to listen to the whole thing: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbm9jHmX2yH9CefP__JhhAA.

You can stream on pretty much every music platform. Here's some quick links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1618848128
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ELOs4w8eldQwY6XSi8Y0V?si=n160H0sxTpS7ibs_v9XR8g
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/artists/B09XQGK7FY?ref=dm_sh_caa3-3616-0d94-c286-adac6
Youtube Music : https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m2OaGRoP4nvMsE2z7xKE4Pz5VjcfTuVGM
Bandcamp: https://sevenoneself.bandcamp.com

Welcome bro. I'm sort of in a similar situation as you! Though I've never been a pastor, Ha! Welcome. I'll give the sounds a listen a bit later when i'm back on. I know a bunch about music too (not blowing any trumpets, just saying what is true is all). Listen soon.

Listened to the Treasure of the Crucible. Really liked how it started out. Then suddenly that major key change comes in. That whole minor key gear shift to major key can work really well for contrast and unpredictability. Ozzy does it quite a bit in his solo stuff. But In this case (to my ears anyway) it sounds like two different songs sewn together, rather than having a natural feeling of exchange and flow.

Potential is def there.  Guitars sound great and the bass. Drums in parts are a little clunky (just a few of the fills) other wise pretty good. Listen to some more later. Hope that helped a little and Keep up the good work!

alldatndensum wrote:Welcome to the CMR!

I seem to be having issues getting any of the sites to work.  I will figure it out and take a listen, though.

Did you get it to work? I don't think there are any issues with the URL's, as I haven't received any other complaints.

Dustofyears wrote:Listened to the Treasure of the Crucible. Really liked how it started out. Then suddenly that major key change comes in. That whole minor key gear shift to major key can work really well for contrast and unpredictability. Ozzy does it quite a bit in his solo stuff. But In this case (to my ears anyway) it sounds like two different songs sewn together, rather than having a natural feeling of exchange and flow.

Potential is def there.  Guitars sound great and the bass. Drums in parts are a little clunky (just a few of the fills) other wise pretty good. Listen to some more later. Hope that helped a little and Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the feedback. I obviously think it works, or I wouldn't have put it on the album and made it the title track! However, I do know it was one of the few boldest, angular musical moves on the album and my son gave me a bit of pushback on it as well. I view it a bit in the same category as Stryper's Take It To The Cross (although this is even more bold), and I absolutely HATE it. So I can see it going both ways.

Drums are weak on this album compared to everything else, you're right. I worked hard to make the old-school midi set sound hard-hitting and believable, and if you heard the original I'm sure you'd agree. But they are still one of the weaker parts on the album, and like yo said, I'd go back and fix some parts now if I had the chance! There's one fill in All The Rest's solo that is probably the worst on the album.

Thanks for the feedback, and the encouragement! I look forward to hearing more.

What does Sevenoneself mean?

Dustofyears wrote:What does Sevenoneself mean?

In biblical Hebrew, the word that means to covenant with, to make an oath, etc., is literally to "seven yourself".  

7, being the number of God, represents completeness, perfect-ness. 

So to seven-oneself to God means to vow to follow Him.

Barry, I have listened and I have liked.
Nice job!
Just curious why 'My faith has found a resting place' is on the album twice.
A full length 5:45 minute version and then again ending the album with a 3:11 radio edit.

oldschooldoom wrote:Barry, I have listened and I have liked.
Nice job!
Just curious why 'My faith has found a resting place' is on the album twice.
A full length 5:45 minute version and then again ending the album with a 3:11 radio edit.

Thanks for the encouragement!

The Radio Edit is a bonus version for those who really enjoy the song but don't care so much about long solos. I have quite a few middle-to-elderly family and friends who love the newer versions of hymns but care nothing for heavy metal guitar solos and will listen to the radio edit almost exclusively.

Nice job!

I'm a pastor who struggles with anxiety disorder, so I can sympathize with your story. 

I'm listening to the album now and it's really well done. Great work, man!

I like it! The vocals remind me a bit of Alan Parsons Project.  

BaleMaster wrote:I like it! The vocals remind me a bit of Alan Parsons Project.  

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and for taking time to listen to it!

BaleMaster, I realize that  singing is, perhaps, the weakest of my musical talents, and so I spent alot of time editing and mixing and experimenting with effects to make them sound as good as possible. So I am happy with them and I like the understated, heavily compressed, slightly distorted sound. But..........next project I'll definitely be finding a vocalist!

I have never listened to the Alan Parsons Project, so I'm headed to Youtube right now!

Sevenoneself wrote:

Dustofyears wrote:What does Sevenoneself mean?

In biblical Hebrew, the word that means to covenant with, to make an oath, etc., is literally to "seven yourself".  

7, being the number of God, represents completeness, perfect-ness. 

So to seven-oneself to God means to vow to follow Him.

That's pretty cool.