Speedmetal band Seven Kingdoms has announced that they will be playing the DeLand Rock and Music Festival in Florida as their one and only show for 2015. The event takes place November 6-8 in Deland, FL. Word is that the band is working on a new album, hopefully for release in 2016, and that they will debut a new song called “Undying.”
I first saw Seven Kingdoms when they toured the US with Blind Guardian back in 2010 and have been itching to see them again ever since. They usually stick to the eastern half of the US, much to my chagrin, so I’ll probably have to fly over sometime in the future to catch one of their shows. The band’s name refers to the seven kingdoms of Westeros which is probably familiar for those of you who know of Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire. Their first album was composed almost completely with songs about the novels and their subsequent ones had them move away to original songs (as well as the addition of a new female vocalist). If you’re in the area and have the opportunity, have a listen.
For a bit of preparation might I suggest their self-titled Seven Kingdoms album as well as 2012’s The Fire is Mine? In particular the songs “Somewhere Far Away,” “Seven Kingdoms,” “After the Fall,” “The Fire is Mine,” and “The King in the North.” WARNING: If you haven’t gotten too far in A Song of Ice and Fire you might get a little spoiled but most people will have at the least watched The Red Wedding by now. If you dare, check out “Brothers of the Night” which is all Game of Thrones all the time and not completely representative of their current sound. “The Bloody Meadow” is one of my favorites.
EDIT SEPTEMBER 10: DeLand Rock and Music Festival has been cancelled due to its venue running into noise complaints from the neighbors. The venue has held shows for over two decades so it is unfortunate that it has come to this. A smaller version of the festival will take place in nearby Winter Park, Florida, just outside of Orlando. Seven Kingdoms will still play on the second day of the event along with a host of other bands.
Well, damn.