Lion Music
Release : november 14th 2008

Tracklist “In Hoc Signo Vinces” :
When Gates Are Opening
The Skyrider
Dreams They Haunt Me
March Of The Amazones
Anwer To You, Heart (Stranger In The Dark)
Immortal (Hymn To The Prison Guard)
Lethal Attraction
Children Of The Corn
The Mad Minstrels (With Delusions Of Grandeur)
The Lake
Cat Eyes
Feeding The Predator

VII Gates is a Swedish group which has released « In Hoc Signo Vinces » with Lion Music. For me, the Lion Music label is always a guarantee of musical quality since I listen the albums from this label, and I’ve never, never been deceived … And it is not this album neither this group which will make think the contrary ! I love this album !!! I love the variety and the creative capacity of VII Gates. The style of the group is a power metal with symphonic influences due to the very important presence of the keyboards but also progressive in the conception of the tracks. The compositions are very varied and melodic because we go from power metal with very well done symphonic passages, very speed metal passages. The tracks have the benefit of good instrumental and musical arrangements, of very good quality like in, among others, « Dreams They Haunted Me ». Criss Blackburn is an excellent vocalist, who has a very wide range, a melodic voice, well at place, and can go very high in the high pitched notes. He interprets with talent the different songs of this album. « Feeding The Predator » has pronounced rock a Billy accents especially in the intro. The melodies are much worked whatever the titles. If the keyboards have a very important place in the tracks, we still have very good guitars playing and good harmonies at guitars. The rhythmic section is well at place and relatively powerful. We have several guests especially on the vocals level on this « In Hoc Signo Vinces ».
An excellent and solid album that I can just recommend you.

Line up :
Criss Blackburn (chant) (vocals)
JJ Rockford (guitare/claviers) (guitars/keyboards)
Robert Makek (guitare) (guitars)
Nicola Posa (basse) (bass)
Mick van Slowfoot (batterie) (drums)

guests/invités :
Tim Diaz(claviers) (keyboards)
Kristina Lindsmyr (chant) (vocals)
Rick Altzi (chant) (vocals)
Daniel Bäck (backing vocals)
Isabelle Jacobsson (backing vocals)

Contacts :
http://www.sevengates.se
http://www.myspace.com/viigates