“NOT TO BE TAKEN” By The7thGatekeeper

It is becoming increasingly rare to encounter something truly original in the world of heavy and alternative music. THE7THGATEKEEPER tackles this challenge head-on with their new single “Not To Be Taken,” a work of relentless sonic fury interwoven with intimate, self-reflective themes. The track stands as a cathartic release and artistic declaration, and is currently accessible on primary streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer. “Not To Be Taken” is essential to the growing catalog of music for emotionally provocative, musically powerful releases that warrant focused listening.

“Not To Be Taken” instantly transports the listener to a suffocating soundscape that has an almost overwhelming immersive quality. The guitars, steeped in the influence of Lamb of God, contrast with the ferocity of their riffs to offer an unrelenting and intricate sound. There is a precision to the rhythm of the instrumentation, but rather than feeling sterile, it exudes life as it breathes and pulsates. Over this sonic landscape sits a vocal performance with strong connections to early Slipknot: chaotic, visceral, and unapologetically raw. The choice to add multiple vocal layers during the singing of the lines was a brilliant decision, as it captured the spiraling tension depicted in the lyrics.

The song's words begin with the concept that there are certain realities one cannot escape, a reality that is painful yet common to everyone.  THE7THGATEKEEPER seems to take on personal battles that have been recurring burdens for as long as they can remember, and, as they put it, they have been transformed into art and did not attempt to balance the pain.  Throughout this work, there is nothing to disguise the lack of protective covering; rather, it is the vehicle that drives this song’s creation. The outcome is a song that goes way beyond speaking and rather defies the listener to confront themselves and come to terms with the inevitable realities of their lives.

The rawness of the song “Not To Be Taken” makes it stand out from the rest, and what is worth noting is that the way this rawness is put into the song is neat and highly organized. The “chaos room,” as it is known, is a small home studio, the only one where the song was recorded. Grit, as well as the polish, is preserved. The song was professionally mastered by Romesh Dodangoda from Longwave Studios in Cardiff. The balance Dodangoda achieves between maintaining the essential heaviness, while by no means marring the overall sound, is incredible. Each component can exhale, and yet, at the same time, the song is forceful. The appeal of this track lies in the interplay of solution and expertise - a blend of personal touches and high-class work.

The emotional resonance of the song is complemented by its position in a broader creative arc. “Not To Be Taken” will be featured in THE7THGATEKEEPER’s second album, which is expected to be released later this year. This context brings in an extra layer of anticipation as the single already feels like a standalone release, but also a sneak peek of the larger work, which is expected to delve deeper into the themes of struggle, resilience, and self-confrontation. To the lovers of impactful emotional music with the exhilaration of heavy riffs, this track brings a promise of much more to follow.

“Not To Be Taken” is more than just a heavy song; it is part of a lived experience, and a testament to the fact that music blends brutality with beauty. With relentless energy, profound intimacy, and a fearless drive to push boundaries, THE7THGATEKEEPER has created a piece that, defying its short duration, will reverberate and resonate. This is a song that will be cherished by those who yearn for music that dares to be complex, gritty, and unapologetically raw, and as the title suggests, should not be underestimated, nor taken lightly.

Written by Manuel