Reviews list for 7 Angels 7 Plagues - Jhazmyne's Lullaby (2001)

I could never have picked a more perfect time to review this masterpiece than now. As of doing that, it is the year of its 25th anniversary, and it's July 7. Get it? 7 7! Not my best joke but it sure beats a certain brainrot meme. Anyway, the sole album by 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Jhazmyne's Lullaby made a significant impact on the metalcore scene that would help other bands of the genre build their sound, including two of the bands the members would go on to form and join; Misery Signals and Dead to Fall.

Metalcore is often about blending beauty with brutality, and the guitarists can do that with their melodies and chords. The breakdowns are all wonderful and fresh, and that alone should've given this short-lived band more credit as metal/hardcore forerunners.

Some tracks re-recorded from the Until the Day Breathes and the Shadows Flee demo EP, including the opening track "A Farewell to a Perfect Score". The drums and riffing start off simple before going reckless. The melodies really bring together beauty and brutality. The heaviness doesn't stop until at the end with a soft clean break from the intensity that continues in the next track. That next track being "Someday". And further into "The Commentator’s Despair" which is the heaviest here with barely any melody.

"The Afternoon" is nothing but a short soft acoustic interlude. I used to not care for those kinds of tracks, but then I realized how essential they are in metalcore releases, maybe even deathcore bands like All Shall Perish. A nice break from the action is needed, so the occasional clean interlude can help with that. "Away with Words" has a brilliant intro of a repeated piano melody with the rest of the instrumentation rising and leading into more of those screamed vocals. Up next, "Dandelion" has more of that sick drumming. Not much has changed from its EP version compared to the other re-recorded tracks, but I wouldn't make any changes.

"Arcadia Falls" cranks up the bass and drums, along with occasional gang vocals. I have mentioned that there are wonderful breakdowns in this album, but wait until the end to hear the most crushing one here. It segues to one more re-recorded track, "Silent Deaths, Crowded Lives". It's highlights like this one that make me wish they were still active. The title track is a sweet piano outro. It's so expressive, like the soundtrack to looking back at your childhood. I may actually consider that another bold highlight!

It's so unbelievable how the lone album from a short-lived band would be so influential to other bands and listeners (including myself), past and present. Another brilliant highlight in earlier metalcore and one I would recommend for any fan of the genre. Absolutely groundbreaking!

Favorites: "A Farewell to a Perfect Score", "The Commentator's Despair", "Away with Words", "Silent Deaths, Crowded Lives", "Jhazmyne's Lullaby"