German melodic speed metal band, founded in 1989 under the name The Preachers. After releasing 1 album using this name, the band changed it to Seventh Avenue in 1993, adopting a more German metal sound, similar in style to bands such as Helloween, Freedom Call and Metalium. After a demo tape released in 1993, the band began working on their debut album.

TALES OF TALES (1996) ATM & BEAT THE RECORD

Yet another band I had heard so many good things about, I wanted to check them out myself. And in a heavy metal store in Germany I found this CD. Christian melodic power metal is not so common, so I had high hopes for this release. But I became very disappointed with it at first. There are some ok songs present, but the production is not top notch. Then add a vocalist that clearly has not got the voice to sing such high notes (why don't they just write vocal-lines that lay a bit lower?), and a thick German accent. I must say that this album collected dust for quite some time. But I've recently taken it off the shelves again to give it another go. And I've grown to get more familiar with the voice and the accent, so now I can sit down and listen to this album in a whole new way. I'm not loving it yet, but I'm not hating it either. Some of the notes this dude is trying to hit are still making me cringe. Worth noticing is the guest appearance of Olaf Hayer (ex-Chrystyne, Lord Byron, Treasure Seeker, Luca Turilli and Dionysus). His background vocals are way better than this bands lead singer! :) Oh, and "Sailing" is a cover of a song made famous by Rod Stewart.

Killer tracks: Tales Of Tales, Time, Pink Elephants

BETWEEN THE WORLDS (2003) MASSACRE

I haven't exactly been the most eager follower of this band, due to the poor impression 'Tales Of Tales' made on me. But when the established metal-label Massacre signed the band, and more and more people told me how good this new album was, I just had to hunt it down. But again, on the first listening I was left unimpressed. The band is totally unoriginal, and simply not that good at writing catchy tunes. They have changed all members, but one, from the last time I heard them. Unfortunately the staying member is the vocalist/guitarist. So after some spins in the car stereo, I was about to toss this album on the shelve, and leave it there. Then it was time for me to write something about it for this site, and I decided to pop it in the player, while I wrote. And I must say I'm much more happy with it now. So the album is filled with German melodic speed metal clichés, and the singer still doesn't host my favorite pipes. But as long as I can sit down and listen to the album, and my head starts to nod along to the music, they must be doin' something right! What I like the most are the riffs, and the harmony guitar-parts. I might just have to invest in their entire back catalogue now.....

Killer tracks: A Step Between The Worlds, Tale Of Forgotten Dreams, Angel's Kiss

ETERNALS (2004) MASSACRE

I actually bought this CD only days after it's release. The reason it didn't end up on this page earlier is that I have had similar problems with it as I had with it's predecessor. On the first spins this also sounded like generic German power/speed metal. And again my main problem was the vocals, and the fact that these guys are not even slightly original. But several spins later, and my opinion is a bit different. Seventh Avenue represents the kind of music I usually totally dig within the secular market. Rage, Grave Digger and Steel Attack are all bands that Seventh Avenue are reminiscent of. And especially the first 2 of those are also famous for hosting 2 very distinctive vocalists you either love or hate. So why do I have such problems with these guys? I'm really not sure. Because listening to this album as I write this, I am liking most of the songs. "Raging Fire" is a very cool power metal anthem, for example. And if you can look past the German accent, and the fact that they aren't the best lyricists (corny lines like "why don't you be an actor in my future tale?" just won't do! lol), you will find a band that loves what they do! And they do bring the message of Truth.

Killer tracks. Eternals, Raging Fire, Juggler Of Words, Infinite King, Domination Of Sin

TERIUM (2008) MASSACRE

Has it been 4 years since Seventh Avenue's last album already? Man, how time flies. Well, my love/hate relationship with Seventh Avenue is once more put to then test. 'Terium' is the bands 6th full-length album. And I dare ay that hey have not changed much musically since their debut from 1995. New this time around though is the story. Yes, 'Terium' is a concept album, but don't ask me what it's all about. I seldom bother to check into stuff like that. I just listen to the music. So I can ascertain that this is yet another melodic speed/power metal album from this band. Seventh Avenue deserves praise for being bold enough to pertain this style. Most of the bands that adopted, or started out with, this kind of music after 1995, when the genre grew popular again, have now evolved into melodic metal acts, and softened up. Playing European power metal is not cool any longer, so the genre just "disappeared". But these Germans hold on to the Gamma Ray/Helloween clone band thing. So kudos for that. But I'm still on the fence about this band. They do deliver some great playing, and they uphold the style standards just fine. But the album as a whole is just not as memorable as I would have hoped for. And 15 songs are way too much to consume when most of the songs sounds pretty much the same. One by one they sound great though. And if you cut away some of the fillers, this would certainly be the bands strongest effort this far. However, the overall impression is still that of a generic power metal band. But if you're a die hard fan of melodic speed metal, don't let my lukewarm thoughts keep you from checking out Seventh Avenue. Since they are still signed to Massacre Records, when most other acts in this genre seems to be treated like the plague, they must still be doing something right.

Killer tracks: Terium, Futures Dawn, Needs, Hands Of The King, Betrayal

Herbie Langhans guest appearances:

Kamelot - 'The Black Halo'

Rhapsody Of Fire - 'The Frozen Tears Of Angles'

Related artists:

Treasure Seeker, Creed