FB1964 - 2024 - Seven Deadly Sins

(45:11; Bornkamp Records)























Track list:
1. Pride 7:51
2. Greed 8:15
3. Lust 7:10
4. Wrath 5:15
5. Gluttony 5:13
6. Envy 6:29
7. Sloth 4:58

Line-up:
Frank Badenhop - guitars
Mirko Gätrje - bass
Hanno Kerstand - drums
Becky Gaber - vocals
with:
Gabby Vessoni - vocals
Ralf Scheepers - vocals
Raphael Mendes - vocals
Bobby Ellsworth - vocals
Liv Jagrell - vocals
Johnny Gioeli - vocals
Ally Storch - violin
Iago Pedroso - guitars
Yiannis Papadopoulos - guitars
Michele Dr. Viossy - guitars
Alex Rost - guitars
Charlie Parra - guitars
Dethy Borchardt - guitars
Ivan Mihaljevic - guitars
Tamas Petro - guitars
Juan M. Varona - guitars
Julia Kosterova - guitars
Andrew Roz - guitars
Brian Maillard - guitars
Eric Wirsing - guitars
Eric Maldonado - guitars
Juliana Wilson - guitars
Giulia Marta Vallar - guitars

German project FB1964 are out with their eighth studio album since this venture started out back in 2010. As has been the case for all of these albums so far, everything revolves around the compositions of composer and guitarist Frank Badenhop with multiple guest musicians contributing on the different songs, while the proceeds from the sale of this production goes towards a charitable organization.

It is a good, old fashioned manner of traditional heavy metal that is the focus when the topic of the seven deadly sins are explored on this album. Slower paced creations with compelling guitar riff constructions lead the way in a slow but steady manner, with the pace and manner of execution at times reminding me ever so slightly of the doom metal tradition. Most of the songs will spice things up a bit too, with slight left turns into power metal oriented landscapes being a recurring element throughout, as well as very occasional dips into a manner of execution that may be a bit closer to thrash metal. Several of the songs also feature calmer sections, either as the opening part or as an interlude just around the halfway stage, where the acoustic guitar as well as the violin will have a role to play at times.

The use of different lead vocalists adds variety and identity to the different songs, with the switch between male and female lead vocalists in particular striking me as an efficient contrast in that context. On a similar note we also get instrumentalists in general and guitarists in particular switching from one song to the next, which does strengthen the identity of the individual compositions as well as emphasizing the aspect of variety that comes from using many different musicians to create a project of this kind.

Asa has often been the case for the albums by FB1964 that has come my way, I do find this to be an accomplished production on all levels, and many of the songs trikes me as being solid creations through and through, with compelling guitar riff constructions as perhaps the main strength I notice with my manner of listening to music. If a more majestic and slower paced variety of traditional heavy metal is a type of music you tend to enjoy, and some more vibrant power metal inspired sprints is a welcome expansion to such landscapes for you, chances are good that you'll find this to be an enjoyable production.

Olav M. Björnsen, July 2024

Links:
https://fb1964.bandcamp.com/

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