SEVEN KINGDOMS has made a name for themselves in the Power Metal world. Handpicked by BLIND GUARDIAN to open for them on their 2012 tour, the Florida band has played with prominent acts such as QUEENSRYCHE, AVANTASIA, BEHEMOTH and HELLOWEEN, and has released four studio albums. They have albums lined up for release in 2020 and 2021, and after hearing the songs on this EP, I will be waiting for them.

"Empty Eyes" opens with a pumped riff harmonizing electronic elements and traditional instrumentation. The vocalist has a beautiful voice. She reminds me of Simone Simmons from EPICA with her clear, sultry operatic style. In fact, the instrumentation reminds me a lot of the aforementioned Dutch Metal band. The instrumentation is also excellent: the crashing drums, the harmonies between the guitar riffs and synthesized melodies are some of my favorite elements.

"Monster" heads right into the meat of the song with the vocals, guitar, bass and drums starting right after the song begins. The riff is more thrash-y than the last song and goes from speed to anthemic and back again through the song. The soprano-gravel juxtaposition in the chorus is well-utilized and the pounding drums pump through the song keeping you energized from beginning to end.

"The Water Dance" begins with heavy Speed Metal elements, especially with the rushing bass and guitars. The crashing snare is a nice thematic touch, tying into water by sounding like crashing waves. I love how the singer soars through the chorus with echoing backups, giving us a bit of a break from the speed, but not letting up on the intensity. The choir in the guitar solo is amazing and a wonderful lead-in to the intricate guitar work.

"Valonquar" begins slower with soft, high guitars and a mysterious air. When the first verse stops, I realize it's their slow song. However, the arpeggio chord between the first and second verse was a notably great show of technique, as was the legato held note at the end of the first chorus. The fading ending is interesting but seems to cut the song off prematurely; I wouldn't have minded if the song was longer, especially if they included a slow, melodic guitar solo and an intense final chorus.

"Barracuda" is a cover of the famous HEART song. They include the iconic opening riff with a nice bite, and the vocalist is well-suited for the song. They don't do much to change the song, which is just as well; changing it too much, as the changes may or may not work, and as I've said, the band is really well-suited to perform this song. The solo is biting, with a lot of energy and heaviness behind it. It's a great cover; I recommend checking it out, and I imagine it would be a great staple in their lineup on tour.

Overall, I'm excited to hear more from this band and as I've said, I'm looking forward to hearing more from them!