The Fire Is Mine
The Fire Is Mine gets much of its momentum from the guitars. They play tightly and quickly, set melodies alongside one another and leave enough room for Sabrina Valentine's clear singing. Seven Kingdoms make the distance between heavy riffs and accessible choruses feel small. The songs remain easy to follow even when the musicians are working hard.
The band do not need a large orchestra to sound full. The two guitars complement each other and the drums give the music a firm push. Valentine sings powerfully without adopting an operatic approach. Her voice therefore stays close to the instruments' direct style. She gives the melodies some warmth without slowing the energy down.
Fragile Minds Collapse brings out the heavier side. The riffs and active bass provide more movement than a simple rhythm beneath a large chorus. In The Twisted Twilight also has a fierce drive. The band hold on to the melody while the guitar parts draw clearly on thrash metal. It remains power metal, but with a sharper edge.
Kardia reverses the balance. The soft ballad gives Valentine room to show another side of her voice. That pause works well alongside the fast playing. It demonstrates that the band can make an impression without only becoming louder or quicker.
Every song does not use those possibilities equally well. The constant emphasis on force makes some passages predictable, and the longer sections do not always offer the same reward. Clear production does keep everything easy to follow. The guitars remain sharp and the singing never gets buried. The Fire Is Mine is a careful, energetic record that delivers its familiar ideas well. Two active guitars and a clear lead voice give Seven Kingdoms enough character of their own.
