Seventh Avenue

Way back around 96 this guy at a record store told me this band was a lot like Veni Domine, so I snagged one up immediately. Utterly disappointed! They were nothing like VD, galloping power metal that I had no taste for. Some years later I developed a taste for this style of metal, mostly because of Blind Guardian, so I recently picked up an lp by SA; "Terium", this is quite good, glad I gave them another shot!

Wish they were still making music.

Just ordered this, I remember reading somewhere that this band had members of SA...

I have both Lightmare cds. Love Seventh Avenue last 3 albums the best. But I also like there older stuff.

I'm rediscovering them too.  I first heard "Time" on the first HM Magazine sampler CD.  I bought Tales of Tales from Rad Rockers and loved it, but then I hit financial rocks and Rad Rockers went downhill on quality anyway so I never followed up on anything else.

I never knew about a Lightmare connection.  I have Certain Death but haven't listened to it in years.

I didn't know Lightmare released more than one...

This sounds pretty good!

Candlemass wrote:I didn't know Lightmare released more than one...

Per Firestream Music Vault there are 3 plus a demo.  I only knew of 2 myself.

Lightmare is good. I have 3 of theirs. Seventh Avenue is also very good. Check out Sinbreed as it has many members from SA in it, including the vocalist.

The vocalist of Seventh Avenue joined Sinbreed

Yes but they are NOT a Christian band

have any of you seen all the threads on the lyrics of this song????????
The song
Reborn of off Shadows

Too long I watched in silence
Watched my life passing by
Had faith in words
That once been said in vain
A kingdom of the heavens
Forgiveness of my sins
Such noble words
Been written in our past

Breaking out of my cage
My ears are deaf
To the pied pipers call
Find a new way to go
I break my agreement
And live on my own

Reborn in rage and ego
My chance has come at last
I'm burning down the bridges
To overrule my blinded past
Don't need no lord no master
I dump my crown of thorns
Never again I'll follow
Never again
I'm reborn

You see a world of darkness
Tell me to grow it out
By following
A bunch of hypocrites
But I see a light around me
And this is not divine
It's the power of the people
Who decide to live

Breaking out of my cage
My ears are deaf
To the pied pipers call
Find a new way to go
I break my agreement
And live on my own

Reborn in rage and ego
My chance has come at last
I'm burning down the bridges
To overrule my blinded past
Don't need no lord no master
I dump my crown of thorns
Never again I'll follow
Never again
I'm reborn

Breaking out of my cage
My ears are deaf
To the pied pipers tune
Find a new way to go
I break my agreement
And live on my own

Reborn in rage and ego
My chance has come at last
I'm burning down the bridges
To overrule my blinded past
Don't need no lord no master
I dump my crown of thorns
Never again I'll follow
Never again
I'm reborn

I think what really got me into bands like Blind Guardian, and now Seventh Avenue, is the story telling, the fantasy, Tolkienish, quite the adventure...

Blind Guardian is pretty great, especially when they get proggy like in Nightfall in Middle Earth. Seventh Avenue and Sinbreed are pretty good...the voice is slightly more irritating though. I also recall Sinbreed's latest as not sounding as Christian inspired as their first but I'll have to hear it again.

I think the Lightmare/Seventh Avenue connection is Andy Gutjahr on guitars.  As far as I can tell, he only played guitar on SA's "Southgate," though.  He also played guitar on the Treasure Seeker album ("A Tribute To the Past") which is another late 90s Christian metal gem featuring the great Olaf Hayer on vocals.  It's all covers with the exception of the title track.

I would put Lightmare's "The Fool" on any essential Christian metal list.  I wish they released more.  "Certain Death" is okay but suffers from poor production and less stellar vocals, IMHO.  "Vampires" is also good but too short (being an EP).

Candlemass, you also like Veni Domine?  It seems we may have similar tastes.

Parched Earth wrote:
Candlemass, you also like Veni Domine?

Rhetorical question?!

I suppose so.  They're one of my faves, too.

Veni Domine is one of my faves too. Quick poll: Fall Babylon Fall or Material Sanctuary? I've listened to FBF for longer and I think the songwriting is more accessible so it's my favorite. The heavy riffs and more proggy moments on MS are really growing on me, though.

Fall Babylon Fall   

I'm probably in the minority who would say "Spiritual Wasteland" is my favorite.  "Material Sanctuary" is a close second, though.

FBF
23:59
IIII
Spiritual Wasteland
Material Sanctuary
Tongues

Not enough light yet shed on "Light" for me to make an enlightened evaluation...

Seventh Avenue is great and Terium was a great album. Also on the Eternals album theres a good worship song, Infinite King

Cool.... I just started getting into these guys as well. I love how triumphant and melodic they are while being heavy. Without being soooo stereo typical in this genre. Great sounding guitars. These guys stand out from the rest of the pack.

Really glad I gave this band another shot, great metal!

Didn't realize their last lp was released 7 years ago, thought they just broke up a couple of years back...

My favorite Seventh Avenue album is "Between the worlds". I especially love their melodic guitar work. "Storm II" and "Storm III" belong to my favorite metal instrumentals. I have seen Seventh Avenue live several times and it was always worth it.
As for Lightmare: They planned to release a new album called "Autumn of Life" in 2009, but unfortunately it never saw the light of day. They played two of the new songs live, as one cann see and hear at youtube:

That's pro-shot footage, available on dvd?