7DAYS: Into Forever (2021 Remix)
2010 saw the return of 7days with Into Forever (originally released on Rivel Records). The album featured an expansion of the sound in a heavier direction and a greater diversity of vocalists as Thomas Vikstrom (Therion) was joined by Christian Liljegen (Narnia/Audiovision), Caroline Sigfridsson and Erik Tordsson. Daniel Flores once again recorded the drums, Andreas Olsson/Passmark the bass and Kaspar Dahlkvist dazzled on keyboards. Fans of the first release – Weight of the World – would find much to enjoy with this massive collection of melodic progressive metal – most of the songs somewhat heavier than the debut, but still featuring the trademark guitar crunch of Markus Sigfridsson.
The sonic difference between the 2021 remix and the original are once again quite noticeable with an A/B comparison, but perhaps not quite as much so as with the Weight of the World remix. Still, the older version – when compared to the new – has a more compressed sound and a more anemic sounding bass and kick drum presence. Even the treble voices sound better on the remix – more vibrant and distinct yet without the distorting sibilance and listener fatigue that plagued the 2010 recording. Overall, the remix just smokes the original – so expansive, so powerful, so much more punch.
Through Dark and Light … Into Forever
72 minutes is a lot of music to cover, and my words can’t encompass the magnitude of what is going on here, but Into Forever stands as the perfect complement to Weight of the World. No progressive album would be complete without an instrumental intro, right? “Through Dark and Light” sets the tone of this album to a slightly darker notch as the thunder, rain and crows herald the heavy grooves of the title track which follows.
Vikstrom and Caroline once again combine talents to create an engaging duet/debate over the timeless struggle between dark and light and the struggle to find the way “Into Forever.” The music (below) speaks volumes more than I can express.
I Have Found in You … the Innocence in Me
One of the qualities of this remix is that the music just feels more “acoustic” and less digitally processed and compressed. Nowhere is that more evident than with the epic “The Innocence in Me” – one of the most enjoyable songs on the album and one which features all 4 singers. This song really has everything – great vocals, heart-felt lyrical confessions, dynamic contrast, killer instrumentations with plenty of guitar and keyboard solo shred.
“Will we ever see what our lives could be/Will we ever find our meaning in life”
We Hold the Key
There are so many things that hold us back from finding our way and seeing truth in life – dark, cold fear can sink us to obscurity. These themes are explored in “You Hold the Key,” a song which features sparkling keyboards amidst very combustible guitar solos all held together with great vocal melodies from Thomas and Caroline. The song has this almost commercial melodic rock vibe but this is juxtaposed with explosive neo-classical power metal overtones and driving bass drum beats.
Tear Down All Fences
“Enter a Dream” is the Euro power metal speedy rocker here, the remix essentially lending more power and kick to the fast double bass. This song has that Harmony vibe for sure – the power and speed on par with some of the songs from Chapter II: Aftermath.
“Crossing” is a soft instrumental interlude – a breath of air between two breathtaking heavyweight hits.
You Will Never be Saved by Your Deeds
After a brief interlude the intensity is propelled by driving keyboard melodies over a heavy slow groove in “We Cry No More” – a song which reminds us that power and control and “stealing mercy” convey an illusion of success, one which ultimately ends in doom.
Some Things … are Not Meant to be Understood
The true meaning of power metal can be found “Under the Sun.” Swift double bass and snare/tom rolls propel this song in a headlong spiral as the 4 voices combine in discourse on the ultimate sin – the exchange of the truth for a lie. The frenetic guitars and keyboards compete for control of the song with dazzling solos and interplay.
I Will Not Be the One
Echoes of Darkwater reverberate within the “Scattered Mind” – a slower, riff-fueled track featuring Thomas Vikstrom. The vocals benefit the most from the remix – the choral sections a “cathedral-hall” quality, the “stand-your-ground” words a more triumphant stance.
We All Will Reach the Final Frontier
No progressive metal album worth its weight in the world would be complete without the epic song. Nearly 20-minutes in duration, the “Final Wisdom” not only represents the epic track, but the music encompasses the scope and lyrical weight of the entire album – the struggle between light and dark, the innocence of uncertainty, the fear and doubt, the bindings of the flesh, the deliverance, the faith, the humble recognition that knowledge isn’t salvation, the perseverance against attack, the hope in what is to come, and the victory of truth over self-deception.
Musically, this song showcases a depth of songwriting akin to Darkwater, instrumental technical execution akin to Theocracy and the ebb and flow of emotions and dynamic contrast akin to fellow Swedes Pain of Salvation.
My Faith? or What is True?
Where “Final Wisdom” represents the pinnacle of the journey, “What Matters” represents the denouement. The voices combine and conspire to deliver a powerful finale accompanied by a crunchy, mid-tempo drive once again replete with tasteful guitar leads, cinematic keyboards and powerful drumming.
“Frontier” represents the bonus track from the “unrealized” Japan release. This instrumental – similar to “Equinox” – has that neo-classical Yingwie vibe, and at 4-minutes duration has the substance to properly close-out this collection of melodic progressive/power metal excellence.
The new booklet is 20 pages (the original 14 pages) and retains the original lyrics/art layout with a few additional images and the credits page altered slightly. There is a page as well for the bonus track “Frontier” with its own imagery. The “black” (red polycarbonate) CD features new artwork (matching the logo of the Weight of the World remix) making this release the perfect companion to the renewed version of the 7days debut.
I will confess, that when I first heard this album 11 years ago, I didn’t appreciate or “hear” all that was going on both musically and lyrically. Thanks to this remix, I’m enlightened and enthralled, especially where the drums and vocals are concerned. But additionally, I didn’t fully explore the lyrical brilliance. Shame on me. Ulterium Records and Markus Sigfridsson have collaborated to bring this masterpiece “out of the darkness” and “into the light.”
1. Through Dark and Light (1:32)
2. Into Forever (6:28)
3. The Innocence In Me (9:10)
4. You Hold The Key (4:33)
5. Enter A Dream (5:26)
6. Crossing (0:51)
7. We Cry No More (4:11)
8. Under The Sun (4:24)
9. Scattered Mind (6:02)
10. Final Wisdom (19:44)
11. What Matters (5:28)
12. Frontier (4:05)
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