Review Summary: A strong recommendation for those who enjoy the class aspect of classic metal
Much like their 2016 debut, Seven Sisters’ second album offers a grandiose take on traditional metal that reminds me of classic Kamelot in a lot of ways. Along with a similarly Arthurian aesthetic, the production has a reverb heavy polish, and the vocals reminds one of Roy Khan’s performances on The Fourth Legacy or Karma. One can also hear influences from Iron Maiden, Savatage, and Yngwie Malmsteen in the theatrical guitar work and epic scope.
In addition to featuring a smoother production job, the band sounds more confident and comfortable on The Cauldron and the Cross than they did on their debut. The execution still isn’t 100% perfect, but the musicians sound much tighter unit this time around.
The songwriting has also gotten more ambitious. “The Premonition” starts the album off with somewhat overcompensating speed, but the band isn’t afraid to slow things down or include gentler guitar work. The mid-tempo fanfare on “Blood and Fire” reminds one of Martin-era Black Sabbath, while “Oathbreaker” executes the medieval power ballad vibe quite nicely. “Once and Future King” and “Turning of the Tide” are also upbeat highlights thanks to their catchy refrains.
Overall, The Cauldron and the Cross is a strong recommendation for those who enjoy the class aspect of classic metal. Seven Sisters’ heightened musicianship and more dexterous songwriting helps the group achieve a sophisticated vision that wasn’t quite as realized on their debut. I think the vocals still need a little more oomph for the band to become a true metal staple, but it’s still worth checking out.
Highlights:
“Blood and Fire”
“Once and Future King”
“Turning of the Tide”
“Oathbreaker”
Originally published at http://indymetalvault.com
