Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for 7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes of Absolution (2012)
7 Horns 7 Eyes is another remarkable discovery in my on-off melodic death metal journey, taking on the progressiveness of Allegaeon and a bit of the hardcore tendencies of Neaera (two other bands I've been listening to lately), along with Christian philosophical lyrics. Unfortunately, they've already faded into the void while trying to make a follow-up to this album. And it stuns me how this band isn't accepted into Metal Archives and a few other metal websites. By that logic, what can be considered true metal then?!
This progressive tech-/melodeath band's sole release so far is a wonderous quest through a dark heavy world. Throes of Absolution is the kind of album that would stand out as greatly as other similar metal bands like Opeth without ripping them off. The album solidifies the band as another team of unsung heroes in the metal realm!
Atmospheric guitars and strings start "Divine Amnesty" and all its majesty, as crushing mid-paced grooves roll through right after. The blend of brutality and melody can truly impress me. "Phumis: The Falsehood of Affliction" is a more chaotic assault with frantic rhythms. There's a lot of melodic progressiveness, including in the mighty soloing, while still heavy. The lyrics seem to question God and reality before accepting the possibility that "we are the consequences of our human weaknesses and our damnation is our own". Then "The Hill Difficulty" has more melodic light in contrast to the earlier brutal darkness. Continuing the lyrical theme from the previous track, a messenger of God is willing to see the light of humanity's hard-to-endure truth, wishing to be carried "to the Summit of Infinity". Love that chorus and its melody!
Next up, "Cycle of Self" has more of the crushing pace, while a bit of accessibility gives it a small boost of popularity outside the subterranean levels of metal. "Delusions" has more darkness to go alongside the melodic/progressive side for another piece of planet-sized heaviness. The lyrics seem to reflect upon repentance with a reward of blessing by the end. Next, "A Finite Grasp of Infinite Disillusion" really takes on the progressiveness of many Infinite bands including Disillusion. As the story goes on, the main character is still determined to seek the truth with the chance of being saved or destroyed. There's a bit of neoclassical melody within the almost doomy slowness.
"Vindicator" is as destructive as a volcano erupting and raining fire and ash across the land. The crushing riffs and leads sound so powerful.. Ravaging highlight "The Winnowing" has more monstrous vocals while the guitar work has some light in the violence. "Regeneration" is very much the music equivalent to the Rapture and subsequent Heaven. It is an instrumental standout featuring some soloing by Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore), reminding me of his later supergroup Conquering Dystopia.
Now this is progressive tech-/melodeath fury as it should be. From ambience to heaviness, 7 Horns 7 Eyes has it all. Throes of Absolution is a must-hear for all metalheads out there. The 2012 apocalypse never happened, but the album still remains a fitting soundtrack for that "what if"!
Favorites: "Divine Amnesty", "Cycle of Self", "A Finite Grasp of Infinite Disillusion", "The Winnowing", "Regeneration"