ALBUMS THAT WILL F*CK YOUR FACE OFF IN 2012: 7 HORNS 7 EYES, THROES OF ABSOLUTION
7 Horns 7 Eyes
Throes of Absolution
Release date – TBA
I feel like I’ve been hearing about 7 Horns 7 Eyes forever, and though it’s really only been two years — when they played the Seattle stop of the Metal As Art Tour with Revocation, Hypno5e and The Binary Code in January, 2010 — the fact that I’ve been sitting on Throes of Absolution in some demo form or other for two whole fucking years has made me all the more excited that this record will finally, mercifully see the light of day in 2012. And boy oh boy, MetalSucks readers are going to LOVE 7 Horns 7 Eyes.
7 Horns 7 Eyes experienced their first national news blip when ex-Nevermore shredder Jeff Loomis recorded a guest solo for this album, this very same album, in late 2009. And the Nevermore/Loomis connection totally makes sense having now heard Throes of Absolution in full; 7 Horns 7 Eyes are like Nevermore 2k12, an updated version of that band for the modern era.
Throes is intensely dark and foreboding, unrelentingly heavy and crushing, all the while uniquely melodic, artful and overtly DRAMATIC — similar to Nevermore. But where Warrel Dane’s patented croon defined a big part of Nevermore’s sound, 7 Horns 7 Eyes are all ball-rattling, bone-shaking, deep, deep, DEEP growls. The kind that would literally scare small children. And yes, make no mistake about it: this metal is technical in nature (as if Loomis’ involvement didn’t tip you off), so there are plenty of ever-shifting time-signatures, classical-inspired melodies and beautifully-crafted guitar solos to go around. Prog metal and death metal fans alike should find a whole lot to love about this album. Shit, even Cosmo Lee ex-Invisible Oranges gave the band an endorsement based on music of theirs he heard on a free sampler compilation.
Throes of Absolution doesn’t have an official release date, but I’m told it’s coming out “soon.” You can listen to the finished track “Vindicator” on the band’s Facebook page, although I think that particular song finds the band in their least unique state — so make sure you peep the album sampler also posted on Facebook, too. And watch the Jeff Loomis guest solo recording session below.
-VN
