Originally released in 2024, A Fortress Called Home cemented Seven Spires’ reputation as an ambitious, creative and emotionally compelling modern metal band, blending symphonic metal, power metal, progressive influences and extreme metal elements.
The band have now followed that up with an expansive Master Key Edition, a definitive three disc package that offers fans the opportunity to experience the album from entirely new perspectives. Alongside the original album, the set includes a complete collection of instrumental versions, highlighting the remarkable arrangements, orchestration work and musicianship that underpin the record. The third disc further expands the listening experience with orchestral versions of selected songs as well as exclusive live recordings captured during the band’s recent touring cycle.
“We invite you to explore deeper into A Fortress Called Home with this Master Key Edition!” said the band. “Who knows what secrets you may find hidden in the instrumentals and orchestral arrangements? What memories will you behold in the gallery of live souvenirs from the last two years?”
“This is also our first time releasing orchestral arrangements,” said vocalist Adrienne Cowan. “I’m a little extra proud of that, and quite excited since it’s something we’ve always wanted to do.”
The band features Adrienne Cowan (vocals, orchestrations, keyboards, sound design), Jack Kosto (guitars), Peter de Reyna (bass guitars, additional vocals, upright bass) and Chris Dovas (drums), with Dylan Gowan on drums for the live recordings from Tilburg and Montréal.
Special guest vocalists featured are Alessandro Conti, Kristin Starkey, Ty Christian, David Åkesson and Angelica Åkesson, plus Ashleigh Semkiw on ‘Love’s Souvenir (Live in Montréal)’.
Disc 1 features ‘A Fortress Called Home’, ‘Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues’, ‘Almosttown’, ‘Impossible Tower’, ‘Love’s Souvenir’, ‘Architect Of Creation’, ‘Portrait Of Us’, ‘Emerald Necklace’, ‘Where Sorrows Bear My Name’, ‘No Place For Us’, ‘House Of Lies’, ‘The Old Hurt Of Being Left Behind’ and bonus track ‘House Of Lies (Acoustic)’.
Disc 2 features the same tracks as instrumentals, with the exception of ‘House Of Lies (Acoustic)’.
Disc 3 features ‘Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues (Orchestral Version)’, ‘Almosttown (Orchestral Version)’, ‘Love’s Souvenir (Orchestral Version)’, ‘Architect Of Creation (Orchestral Version)’, ‘Portrait Of Us (Orchestral Version)’, ‘The Old Hurt Of Being Left Behind (Orchestral Version)’, ‘A Fortress Called Home (Live in Tilburg)’, ‘Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues (Live in Tilburg)’, ‘Architect Of Creation (Live in Montréal)’, ‘Succumb (Live in Tilburg)’, ‘Love’s Souvenir (Live in Montréal)’, ‘Wanderer’s Prayer (Live in Tilburg)’ and ‘Gods Of Debauchery (Live in Tilburg)’.
Produced by Jack Kosto, it is available via Frontiers Music Srl.
Seven Spires have released ‘Emerald Necklace’ as a single and you can check out the video here at RAMzine.
