| Musical Style: Power Metal | Produced By: Herbie Langhans |
| Record Label: Massacre / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: Germany |
| Year Released: 2003 / 2026 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 66:31 |
Like a true European power metal band, Seventh Avenue delivers speed-based acumen, neo-classical overtures, ascending vocals and intermittent epic length songwriting. The Wolfsburg, Germany based group traces to 1992 when it was founded by vocalist and guitarist Herbie Langhans ahead of releasing a year later its custom cassette debut demo First Strike. Remainder of the decade saw Seventh Avenue record three full length albums each on a separate label and with a different roster of musicians in support of Langhans: Rainbowland (1995, Asaph Records), Tale Of Tales (1996, D&S Recordings) and Southgate (1998, Treasure Hunt Records). With 2003 fourth album Between The Worlds, the group solidified the label, Massacre Records, and roster, joining Langhans are guitarist Florian Gottsleben & drummer Mike Pfluger, which would record its final two albums, Eternals (2004) and Terium (2008).
Between The Worlds might not be my favorite of the early Seventh Avenue releases, that recognition applies to melodic metal masterpiece Tale Of Tales, but more than holds its own when placed alongside Eternals and Terium. At the very least it deserves the comparison to power metal contemporaries Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius and Rage noted in the press material to the Retroactive Records April of 2026 reissue. Officially released in the USA for the first time and part of the Metal Icon series, Between The Worlds was re-mastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and includes a 12-page CD lyrics booklet with band photos or 12X12 full color vinyl lyrics insert (noting the work of Scott Waters of NLTM Graphics either way).
I always felt the Massacre production sounded fine, but the Retroactive re-mastering presents with the cleaner and brighter sound in which drums receive a stronger mix (double bass projects added intensity) and rhythm guitar delivers greater edge and bite (increasing heaviness exponentially). Fine details such as guitar leads, bass and vocals further standout in the mix. With repeat listen, the Massacre release comes across somewhat flat in comparison.
The albums soaring sense of melody, attentive but technical songwriting and innate fleet footedness allows it to rank with other top 2003 power metal albums from Narnia (The Great Fall), Rob Rock (Eyes Of Eternity), Harmony (Dreaming Awake) and Theocracy (Theocracy). Hence, manner in which seven minute opening vocal cut “A Step Between The Worlds” imparts a hyper intensive teeming of double bass impelled riffing along with an enlivening melody that has Theocracy written all over it. Langhans projects his recognizable melodic but sandpapery vocal style. Note that the album begins to classical influenced two minute instrumental “Beyond The Ocean”.
Succeeding cut “Levy Your Soul From Hate” is another favorite. It ups aggression to borderline thrash meets speed metal, interspersing accelerated double bass and shattering guitars to obtain a darker semblance but upraising supreme catchiness of an instantaneous nature- the ‘out of the dark get into the light’ phrasing for the empirical refrain refuses any departure inclining. Geronimo Stade, making his lone appearance on a Seventh Avenue album, provides the despoiling bass line. Lyric snippet:
Out of the dark get into the light
Hope will kill the never ending night
The world has lost another slave
Levy your soul from hate
Leave your old life far behind
Don't you look back in any kind
No more hate shall rule your mind
Your sins were paid in blood a long time ago
A cross on a hill sealed Satan's fate
An empty grave levies your soul from hate
“Tale Of The Forgotten Dreams” returns to epic power metal territory. The songs arresting opening moments hint of a semi ballad but force explodes at once, the fragmenting mindset attained upon procuring the remaining span, as a galloping tilting composites with a heartwarming melody, denuded in the medieval oblique to enrich the imperial refrain. Langhans guitar leads align with the breathless motive.
On “Angels Eyes” Seventh Avenue backs from any rambunctious power metal affection for an eighties melodic metal meets hard rock semi ballad veering. Plush harmonies and luxuriant melody play premier roles as opposed to the previous feverish recurrences. Yes, a bit formula and predictable but good all the same, identifying the creative classical guitar instrumental closing seconds. Lyric snippet:
You fear the step into the new
Give up the known let yourself fall
Why do you fear changes
Do you think that no one catches you?
And only theLlord gives power and strength to you
Maybe you'll lose all that is important to you
But now you got the prospect over your life
Don't you lose time, unlock your soul
And see the world with angels eyes
Second seven minute epic ensues in “Open Your Mind”. Song finds the group exhibiting its progressive guile, staying true to the distinctive heavier motifs but also making time signatures to slower but distinguished regal moments and an acoustic passage subsequent to the extensive mid-point instrumental run. A second instrumental excursion over the final half dances to vitalizing guitar leads. I sense a hint of Narnia on this one.
Album reverts to instrumental mode on “Storm Li” but from a full-length standpoint. With fitting sound of a thunderstorm to start, song pushes ahead to a classical coalescing of guitar harmonies and piano that give way to an uplifting metal direction with neo-classical guitar harmonies and invigorating low end- back and forth and back again. A solid deep cut instrumental that is by no means filler.
Seventh Avenue pulls one over the listener on “Until You Come Again”. Song opens its first minute calmly to reticent guitar and soothing vocal melodies, but at just the point you think it is a traditional ballad, an abrupt time signature realizes to a more forward trajectory. Metal guitars kick in with aggressive impact and Langhans’ vocals take a gravelly turn - sort of like Les Carlsen (Bloodgood) - and we are off the remaining assertive distance. Nice transformation on the groups part to prevent any potential predictable deviating. Lyric snippet:
Jesus, you are lord, you are saviour
Only through your blood we are worth
To come before Gods throne some day
You died and have been risen
Only those who believe in that
And accept you as their Lord
Will have eternal life when you come again
So give us strength to carry on
Until you come again
“Wings Of Dawn” ensues as one of albums finest. Song also reveals the Seventh Avenue progressive side, mostly entrenched in a bass impelled Maiden-like riff direction but occasionally making a tempo change to a slower direction as rhythm guitar powers to the forefront in traditional metal fashion. Instrumental moments are curtly explosive as they get.
The classic ballad leanings reveal on “Touch Of Your Love”. No tomfoolery this time as acoustic guitar, orchestral keyboards and softer vocal carry the song its distance, with rhythm guitar only making an impact for the gallantly intrepid refrain. Overall, a solid effort far as ballads concern, albeit leaning towards the predictable ala “Angels Eyes”. Lyric snippet:
Now I'm standing here
Gazing the 7th heaven
And I hope You hear my whisper
Listen to my silent screams
When I close my eyes and think at You
Remember what You'd done for me
Long before I took my first breath
You saved me from eternal death
Seven Avenue delivers a classic power metal cover to the Survivor hit “Burning Heart” (from the 1985 Rocky IV Soundtrack). As expected, heavier than the original - noting the ever-present double kick drum - and gravelly Langhans takes things in a different vocal direction, but also staying true to the unmistakable commercial melody. Overall, the group does Survivor proud.
Album closes to its final epic in the nine minute “One Life Ends”. It takes an aggressive stance along lines of “Levy Your Soul From Hate”, intensified with its front to back boisterous riff action touching upon the thrash like but also valorous in terms of the chanted medieval backing vocals and glistening imprints to the springing refrain. Instrumental moments range from neo-classical to cascading guitar leads. Lyric snippet:
Death and pain, misfortune and fear
Shadows of the past, a sea of despair
The more of it I searched for the less of it I found
I was tired like an old man
Afraid of everything new
The mirror just showed me
The same old intimate friend
But there was nothing intimate left
I identify with Between the Worlds as a strong turn of the century European power metal album with progressive tendencies. It delivers the consistent and varied songwriting goods alongside the type of elevated band performance required of the genre. Langhans in particular lends his unique mid-ranged vocal imprint. Credit to Retroactive Records for making Between The Worlds available again in such an improved re-mastered and enhanced packaging format. If a fan of Seventh Avenue or power metal in its varying forms , I advise making the reissue an immediate purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Beyond The Ocean” (1:55), “A Step Between The Worlds” (7:18), “Levy Your Soul From Hate” (4:51), “Tale Of The Forgotten Dreams” (6:08), “Angels Eyes” (5:23), “Open Your Mind” (6:49), “Storm Li” (4:30), “Until You Come Again” (5:51), “Wings Of Dawn” (5:58), “Touch Of Your Love” (5:24), “Burning Heart” (3:25), “One Life Ends” (8:57)
Musicians
Herbie Langhans - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Florian Gottsleben - Guitars
Geronimo Stade - Bass
Mike Pfluger - Drums
