Full disclosure: I’m a backer on the Kickstarter that funded this album. Seven Kingdoms have made a bold move for independence and fan connection, crowd-funding their past few releases - - including 2019’s “Empty Eyes” EP, which comes complete with the band’s fun retro-80s arcade photoshoot.

More important than their innovations in self-production and marketing are their efforts in the studio. Seven Kingdoms have proven to be one of the most exciting of the new generation of Power Metal bands, and that trend follows through on the “Empty Eyes” EP. Sabrina Valentine continues to be one of the premier voices in 21st Century Metal, with her vocals soaring majestically over well-written songs that blend tradition with progress.
The songs on “Empty Eyes” do dial it back just a bit, with riffs, chords, and melodic backing vocals that skew closer to Dokken than to Helloween. It still works, and doesn’t betray Seven Kingdoms’s core principles one bit. I admit, I rolled my eyes a bit (no pun intended) to see a cover of Heart’s “Barracuda” in the track listing, but their rendition is guaranteed to slay. Anne Wilson’s delivery on the original was beyond legendary, but Valentine rises to the occasion with an incredible tribute, respectful but also made her own. It’s a perfect cap to an excellent ride, that can only be faulted for being too short.
Seven Kingdoms are well into the second decade of their careers, but they’re still young enough to carry the Power Metal genre into the future. They have what it takes. Hail to the future kings (and queen).