The punk collective Seven Crowns recently released its fourth studio album, ‘Haunted Head’, on limited edition vinyl via Pale Wizard Records. Seven Crowns began in 2006 and has had a rich, yet less-than-conventional history. Their first gig took place in New York, supporting Subhumans on a two-week US tour. They then headed to Southeast Asia for a six-week tour taking in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Although hailing from the British West Country, Seven Crowns have only played in the UK on a very occasional basis. For the past twenty years, the band has toured relentlessly through North America, Central America, Mainland Europe, South-East Asia, and New Zealand.
Seven Crowns were the first Western band to play the Indonesian island of Sulawesi since Kool And The Gang played a private gig there for then Indonesian President Suharto in 1981. Upon touring New Zealand, Seven Crowns decided they had “completed” touring and became mainly a studio band. Seven Crowns were born of the European DIY hardcore punk underground, “We still hold the ethics and philosophy of that world. Always will”, Seven Crowns say proudly. The band is far more at ease in a German squat venue than an industry-approved venue. Seven Crowns have long been active organisers of the bi-annual B.O.B. Festival – taking place in Bremen, Germany, Oakland, California, and Bath, England on a rotational basis and see themselves more as a large world-wide sprawling like-minded family who make music as a leisurely hobby rather than their core five-piece unit.
Their fourth full-length album, ‘Haunted Head,’ was produced, mixed, and mastered by Josh Gallop (Krooked Tongue, Phoxjaw, Sergeant Thunderhoof) at Stage 2 Studios in Bath, born out of a period of time where many of the band’s loved ones passed away. Whilst the album channels the band’s grief, rather than dwelling on their loved one’s passing, ‘Haunted Head’ serves as a vessel to celebrate the relationships they shared with them. The album’s track ‘Headstone’ enforces this message, containing a short snippet of a voicemail from a beloved family member.
Whilst still rooted in the punk ethos the band is known and loved for, ‘Haunted Head’ brings with it a new, unpredictable, and genre-blending approach to their songwriting. The album places greater emphasis on melodic instrumentation than their previous works, balancing intricate riffs and aggressive vocals with emotionally honest and deeply personal lyrics. It’s their most visceral album to date.
For further information on the artists, please visit the following links:
- https://sevencrowns.bandcamp.com
- https://www.facebook.com/sevencrowns
- https://www.instagram.com/sevencrownsuk
Image provided by Memphia Music
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