The7thGatekeeper, from Barry, South Wales, England, is a solo musician with an eclectic mix of musical inspirations. The latest work, the original album "Breakdowns or Breakthroughs," was released on October 18, 2024. In this project, The7thGatekeeper served as the songwriter, arranger, performer, and recording artist, with the final mix and mastering refined by Romesh Dodangoda at Longwave Studios.
Creating music that is both authentic and visceral, The7thGatekeeper draws from a variety of influences, including Dolly Parton, Jason Isbell, Muse, and Slipknot. and "“Breakdowns or Breakthroughs” is a reaction to the world we live in, an expression of universal human emotions, bound together with deeply personal threads.", says the artist.
The album is comprised of 11 songs for almost 40 minutes of music. A massive riff opens the album. Escape Plan is heavy and features inspired drumming and vocals. The sound is fantastic and there is also a pure heavy metal solo section. Great start, It reminds me of Megadeth, in some parts. Paragon slows down with an acoustic arpeggio and melodic vocals. I really like the arrangement on this one, very delicate and that reminds me of Pain of Salvation. Acoustic vibes even for the following one, The Black Well, but with a twist: the song becomes really heavy with an intricate riff and intricate drumming pattern, to slow down again. A peculiar and very interesting one.
I love the riffs and the chorus of Watch it Burn, the melancholy mood and arpeggio of Unattached (again, reminds me of Pain of Salvation), the blues rock riff and the powerful bass lines of Glimmers, the groovy riffs, and the angry vocals of We See You, the pace, the rhythm section and the chorus of The Illusion of Scale (probably one of my favourite song on the album, overall), and the hypnotic bass lines and prog drumming of the closing track It's With Me Today.
"Breakdowns or Breakthroughs" is a very eclectic work with lots of different moods and atmospheres. I really like the acoustic and relaxed parts, and I find it inspiring even during the heavy parts. A very cool work, give it a go by clicking on the Spotify player below and remember to follow The7thGatekeeper on social media.
https://the7thgatekeeper.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SeventhGatekeeper
https://x.com/7thGatekeeper
https://soundcloud.com/the7thgatekeeper
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRlCEQ0grSscnrKrGSYSgvg
https://www.instagram.com/the7thgatekeeper/
https://www.tiktok.com/@the7thgatekeeper
https://the7thgatekeeper.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SeventhGatekeeper
https://x.com/7thGatekeeper
https://soundcloud.com/the7thgatekeeper
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRlCEQ0grSscnrKrGSYSgvg
https://www.instagram.com/the7thgatekeeper/
https://www.tiktok.com/@the7thgatekeeper