Seven Years of Blood
| Seven Years of Blood | |
| Founder: Multiple | |
| Basics | |
| Alignment(s): | Blue |
|---|---|
| Motto: | Music is everything. |
| Leader(s): | Canadienne |
| Logo: | none |
| Group Colours: | red, white |
| Playerbase | |
| Levels: | NA |
| Play style: | NA |
| Roleplay: | Light RP |
| Timezone(s): | CST |
| Recruiting: | No |
| Contact: | @lady skald |
| ' | |
Seven Years of Blood is not a super group, but a symphonic metal band made up of Yves Manderville, Jacquline Manderville, Dominique Turgeon, Michelle Villeneuve, Raven Running Cloud and Marcus Cromwell. Based out of Montreal, Quebec, the four original members of the band (Yves, Jacqueline, Dominique and Michelle) were formerly the punk band Blanc Noir. The female members of the band also have a hard rock side project called Secord.
History
The four original members of the band formed while in high school in Quebec City. Brought together by Yves, the four formed a fast bond, and a garage punk band soon became well known in Quebec's underground music scene.
High School Years
The early years of Blanc Noir were slow, but promising. Playing mostly high school dances, the four received requests from different youth organizations to play. Sometimes payment was gas money and a meal, but for the four of them, it was enough. Playing mostly cover tunes of 70s and 80s hits, but reworked to a more punk sound, they became popular within a suburb of Quebec City.
EP and demo
After graduation, the four decided to try their luck with a record deal. It took a while, but soon were signed to a three record deal. Coming up with original material, their popularity grew to include fans in the Maritime provinces. This grew the attraction of several people in Halifax and Moncton, including one Able McIntyre.
Able McIntyre years
One of the more dark moments of the early band's life, the four brought in Able McIntyre as a fifth member. What would follow would be the most traumatic time of the band's short life, and would lead to the break up. As it turned out, Able was in fact a stalker and serial killer, using the band's gigs as a way to scout targets. It wasn't long before Dominique and Michelle (both of whom were already well established as costumed crime fighters Canadienne and Acadia respectively) began investigating the murders and discovered Able was the cause.
The eventual trial and publicity would go on to affect the four members, and they decided it was time for a break.
Hiatus
What would go onto become a three year break proved valuable for the four. Yves pursued his interest in composing more orchestral arrangements, Jacqueline attended the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto soon obtaining her ARTC in voice, Michelle began coaching gymnastics for Team Canada hopefuls and Dominique went off to war, enlisting with the Canadian Armed Forces. For Dominique, she eventually served a year and a half in Afghanistan with the Canadian Corps of Engineers.
Upon Dominique's return, she and Michelle moved west, enrolling in the University of Saskatchewan's music department. There, they met a promising bassist named Raven Running Cloud. Meanwhile, Yves had been spending his time at McMasters University in Hamilton, Ontario. It was here he met former Hamilton Tiger-cat running back, Marcus Cromwell. Cromwell had suffered a career ending injury and returned to his old alma mater to teach mathematics. As it turned out, he was also well versed in several musical styles.
Conversations began with the original four and the two new friends they had met, and a decision was finally made to get back together, but this time under a new name.
Seven Years of Blood
The new band shifted from punk to symphonic metal. Utilizing Jacqueline's vocal range with Yves on backup, Raven took over the bass duties while Marcus brought together a more symphonic sound on keyboard. Their first album, released independently, was called New Beginnings, and the music, more harder edge, used the band members experiences to tell their own story. They'd changed from the fun, punk sounds of Blanc Noir, and many critics called it a coming of age for the original four.
With the success of their debut album, they forged ahead, using their music as a vehicle to champion social causes. This brought ire from more right wing bases, but the band didn't care. The second album was titled You Hate My Anger, which was focused on the feelings of marginalized people throughout North America.
During this time, both Dominique and Michelle became more active in their costumed personas, but keeping the dual identities wouldn't last. They came out after the release of the second album. They weren't the only ones, as Raven was also known as Grey Kestrel and Marcus had also been involved in the costume crime fighting scene as The Talon. Not only was this a metal band, but a band of vigilantes. They not only wrote music about social issues, they were active in them as well.
Secord
After a fateful interview with Kerrang! magazine which focused on Jacqueline, Dominique, Michelle and Raven, a side project was formed. Mostly reactionary, Jacqueline took issue with the title of the interview as they were nicknamed Girls With Guitars. She felt it infantilized the four of them, who were all in their mid to late 20s by this time.
The side project was named Secord, after Laura Secord who was considered a hero within Canada for her actions during the War of 1812. The music wasn't symphonic, but it was still harder edge. The first album was a mix of cover tunes and two tracks of original material.
Present Day
At present, Seven Years of Blood is still active and recording, having recently released a box set entitled Red Side, Blue Side. The music focused on the actual lives of many costumed heroes and vigilantes giving a more accurate tale of the struggles that many go through.