Sevi – “Genesis” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Yet another amazing female-fronted metal band discovered! This time it is Sevi; which can be translated from Latvian, to mean, ‘Yourself’. And as they say, “if you dig deeper into the band’s lyrics, you will certainly find that the idea of being true to yourself, is strongly embedded within their messages”.

Sevi released their 4th studio album Genesis, onNovember 9^th, of 2023. It is an amazing album of rich progressive, melodic and symphonic metal that will remind you of some of the big stars that they have been invited to open shows for, like: Europe, Black Stone Cherry, Tom Keifer, Nightwish and Evanescence.

The Sevi story began, as their press release states, “…As the dream of two people, Svetlana Bliznakova, the singer and songwriter and Rally Velinov, the bass player and songwriter. They had previously collaborated on a number of solo projects, before establishing the band in January 2010”. For the “Genesis” album, former drummer, Pavlin Ivanov played most of the album’s drums. Alexander Kirilov played lead electric guitar on “Genesis”. This year the band changed personnel, and Stone Angel, is now the new lead guitar player, and Peter Petrov, is the new drummer; to round out the full slate, of a new ‘genesis’ of the band.\

Sevi started with original compositions from the beginning, and that vision continues to this day.

On Genesis, Sevi included some well-known artist, to add their special talents to the album. They include:

Johnny Gioeli, (vocals – track 9 – “Drowning”) *don’t include intro in counting!

Mirka Rantanen (drums – track 10- “Higher than the Stars”

Alexandra Zerner (music – track 10; keys & guitars – track 2,8,9)

Enrico Valente (drums – track 1,3,5,6,7)

Nikolay Petkov (co-writing – track 8)

Bambi Nikiforov (drums – track 2)

Genesis was mix, mastered and produced by: Marco Barusso and Kane Churko – (producer of the single “Hate You”).

Genesis is an amazing album, from beginning to end. (With a name like “Genesis”, it had to be, right?). Add the name Svetlana Bliznakova, to my list of favorite new metal singers that I learned about in 2024. This is the kind of metal album, that I really enjoy. Instead of just putting on a grinding guitar track, with a bunch of yelling and screaming, they create intelligent, diverse and dynamic songs, full of well-planned and prepared lyrics, with varied music, balanced well with guitars, drums, and keyboards. As I am reviewing Genesis, I am also anticipating reviewing the new album they are working on now.

So, let’s dig into Genesis:

The “Intro”, sounds like a lullaby, with music box keys and cinematic orchestration and keyboards. It truly opens this album with magnitude, forecasting the epic that follows.

“Ghosts”, gets the song list started. Grinding electric guitars, bass and surrounding drums, set the stage well. Then, its Svetlana Bliznakova’s turn. She sings, “Close your eyes come follow me. Find your fears inside of me. Call your heart and trust me. We can make it through. Ghosts. Everything we’ve lost. Everything we broke. Everything we’ve lost!” All of this is supported with determined electric guitar that is innovative and dynamic. The melody changes and flows well with the lyrics. What an album opener!

“Shattered”, is not the Stones’ classic. (Remember, they only make original songs). Svetlana Bliznakova sings, after a very cool guitar riff, and some explosive bass and drums, “I will punish you for what you did. I will give you nothing but neglection. I will punish you ‘cause you don’t care. I’m the judgment day! You know that I. Never will forgive. The pain is here it’s deep inside me. Still, my heart is bleeding. You know that I never will forgive. But you will get what you deserve. Because you wiped away my dreams. You shattered me!” Yes, melancholic lyrics, but delivered, with power, passion and dynamic, not sad or melancholic music. Music that resists the negative and evil, and instead moves you to respond to the negative in a way that delivers strength.

“Insane”, opens with a cool, grinding guitar riff, followed closely by galloping drums. Not the droning kind of metal, that I am used to hearing. Uplifting and charged music, with a purpose and some fight in it to resist. Svetlana Bliznakova sings, “Darkness is fallin’ upon us. Heroes are buried down in the mud. We shall repeat our story. And blind we shall search for the light. Insane. This world is so sad and it’s driving me. Insane and we are to blame. Why good people matter. When they are dead?” The kind of sanity which used to be commonplace. The strength to resist it, instead of lying down and surrendering. Fight back! I know Svetlana and this band are ready. The closing guitar solo is absolutely riveting!

The “Dark Knight”. Is it Batman? I don’t think so! Svetlana Bliznakova sings, “Dark knight. You came out. From that light. Together in past life. I know you were mine. I know your face. I know your touch. Your voice is speaking to me . I know your skin. I know you since. Fallin’ again I’m. Fallin’ again in love”. The guitar work, drums and orchestration is amazing. Svetlana Bliznakova, sounds a little like a rock and roll Cher, (back in her RnR days of the 70s), which is meant as a compliment of the highest level. The keyboards at the end are mixed well with all the heavy guitar work.

“Unreality”, opens with one of the album’s best guitar riffs. The keyboards join in to make the opening perfect. So new and innovative. Then, Svetlana Bliznakova sings, “Someone opened that door. Somebody grabbed me and thrown me in your arms. Who are you? What are you? Why is so hard to not be next to you. I just want to stay and watch you breathe again. Grab me and let’s disappear. Those hands are holding me back. What’s real and what is not? You make this strange unreality now. Seems so real. But then in a blink of an eye. It’s all gone forever. I may never get out. From this dream!” Wow, what a song. Like I remember, when I heard the first songs off Phantom Elite’s Titanium. Just perfect!

The album’s title song, “Genesis” opens with a powerful thump of a drum, then the innovative electric guitar takes over, with bass. Svetlana Bliznakova sings, “Open your eyes. See the blinding light coming inside from the core. Feel this burning pain in your veins. Darkness inside dies alone. Ooh. Flesh is torn into pieces. A new soul was born. Call the genesis. Save us all! Then she continues, “Save your souls. Save us all!” Let’s all have a genesis of our lives, and do better and more for the world.

“The Spell”, opens with a very cool, whirling electric lead guitar spin. It is excellent and brings back some memories of some of my favorite metal bands. Then, Bliznakova sings, “Then In the darkness buried alive. We enjoy this meaningless life. It′s a shiny lickerish world. Bio robots happy to serve. One, two, three, four. Chain of gold. Five, six, seven. Empty souls”. But no she is not giving in, she sings, “Wake up, wake up! Wake up from the spell! Wake up from this hell!” Yes, absolutely!

“Hate You”, is a rough one. The grinding electric guitar at the opening is a forewarning of what is about to come. The power drums and bass add to the deep pounding that comes out on this vengeance song. Bliznakova sings, “Look me with your eyes now. Seems you play the nice guy. Underneath the fake smile. I can see who you are. If you touch me with your hands now. If you hold me In your arms now. In my veins I feel the poison. You’ve become a monster. I don’t wanna hate you. But I’m gonna hurt you!” My advice to you…Don’t mess with her!

“Drowning”, came around, just at the right time. A duet, with Svetlana Bliznakova and Johnny Gioeli singing, amidst acoustic guitar. Gioeli is the lead vocalist of the rock bands Hardline and Crush 40. However, Bliznakova, starts things off with, “Staring out from the window. Searching the way. No thoughts. No feelings. No regrets. I’m having nothing! Just empty silence in my head. Empty promises. I’m drowning”. Johnny comes along to offer kindship and empathy, “Another bridge has fallen. My dreams have all been stolen. No hopes. No shelter. No respect. I have nothing! Just empty silence in my head. Empty promises. I’m drowning”. Two human beings, consoling each other. Just as it should be everywhere in the world. Drums, bass and electric guitar join in later to create a great melody and guitar solos.

“Higher Than the Stars”, opens with beautiful keyboards and Mirka Rantanen, on drums. Alexander Zerner plays guest lead guitars on this track. Svetlana Bliznakova sings with a softer voice, “Lift me, take me higher. Higher than the stars. Help me mend this broken heart. Broken hearted. I am torn apart. Washed out voices trying to bring me back. Colors fade inside me. I am weak. Wounds can only say but they can’t speak. Can you change the story? Can you help me breathe? Lift me, take me higher. Higher than the stars. Help me mend this broken heart”. We all needed a song like this.

“World Mast”, opens with wind and the sounds of sirens in the city. Then wonderful piano and Svetlana Bliznakova’s voice. “Trying to exist in a world that doesn’t exist. Trying to fit in a picture that doesn’t fit. Crying my eyes out from screaming. But nobody hears. Trying to figure it out, but just got more tears. I don’t want to get used to the thought of a world full of beautiful faces, hey uniform souls”. Her voice echoes across the wasteland. What an incredible song. Easily one of the best songs on the album. Absolutely riveting. They need more of these on the next album. My favorite song on the album!

“Insane”, is an additional version of track number 3.

I am so happy that I requested to review Sevi’s Genesis. Yes, maybe it would have been better to find them in the beginning. But I am a Sevi fan of, and for the future. Sevi’s Genesis, was just that for me! I have jumped aboard this ship and I look forward to future journeys and chapters from this excellent band. Svetlana Bliznakova, is absolutely a singer extraordinaire. But Rally Velinov’ s bass can be felt throughout this album; in the same way that you remember Chris Squire, of Yes. The band has made some changes at lead guitar and drums, so we will hear what they sound like on the next album. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and buy and appreciate the new genesis of this band. And get prepared for a brand new album and chapter…coming soon! Now, on to the interview!

Album Track List: