Them - Manor of the Se7en Gables

It seems that bands have levels of stardom. First you get local, then national, and finally, worldwide. If you think this is all a band can get, you’re flat wrong. A band can get huge famous in a moment to all of a sudden be nothing. They are the well-known one hit wonders. But that’s not what I’m talking about. The point I want to reach is about influence. To Metal bands, it’s what really matters. Huge commercially successful bands influence other bands even in Metal. True fact. However, there are bands that couldn’t achieve a commercial success, but influenced generations of heavy metallers. This is the case of Cirith Ungol, Witchfinder General, Death, just to name a few. Of course, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Saxon, and other commercially well succeeded band influence a lot more.

However, there are bands with a secondary level of stardom that actually influence a lot. Some of these bands are Mercyful Fate and King Diamond. Last year we reviewed Attic, a band with huge Mercyful Fate and King Diamond influences. Now we get Them with “Manor of the Se7en Gables,” whose influences go up to the name and lyrical content, as you may have noticed. But, a big one here, to be influenced doesn’t mean a copycat. It’s just a mere influence. That’s what happens to Them. Of course, there are lots of references in this effort. But Them manage to go beyond them and to write a very interesting album even though the crystal clear influences.

First thing that set them apart is the vocal. KK Fossor doesn’t give those falsettos that made King Diamond famous. Well, in “Seven Gables to Ash” he does a little, but that’s only. With Them we’ll find some intricate vocal lines where other members of the band experiment their voices. The would be enough to set them apart, but Them didn’t think so. They had to go further. Instrumentals are very neat and well-cared. A real craftsmen work who looks it up to each detail. In this case, each note. “Manor of the Se7en Gables” is full of great tunes. “Punishment By Fire” is one of them. In fact, it is also a track that reminds Mercyfull Fate, ironically. But that’s not the motto to Them.

You will enjoy Them if you are a fan of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond, but not only. Them have their personallity and they’ll show it to you in “Manor of the Se7en Gables” if you let them.

Them “Manor of the Se7en Gables” will be released on October 26th via Steamhammer / SPV.

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