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Where would heavy metal be without its commanding vocalists? The late John "Midnight" McDonald of Crimson Glory fame, Helstar's James Rivera, Bruce Dickinson and the late Ronnie James Dio; classic metal would be lost without singing powerhouses like these and the soul-infused performances they've given. Candidly put, Chastain's Leather Leone belongs on that same pedestal. This woman has lungs of molten something or other, with an incredible voice that can't help but turn heads. If there is any doubt as to whether women metal vocalists can keep up with men, just give this album a spin. Leone has a vibrato that would make King Diamond blush; and more than just the ability to put on a singer's clinic belting out some crazy notes, she has an awesome, fiery tone that matches the aggressive heavy metal spirit perfectly. If you don't believe that "It's Too Late For Yesterday" or that "The Wicked Are Restless" prior to hearing these tracks, their fist-pumping vocal lines may convince you otherwise.

And I'm filled with rage, the fire no longer buuuuuurns

But incredibly, Leone is not Chastain's best kept secret. Immediately obvious upon hearing The 7th of Never is the exquisite musicianship of guitarist David T. Chastain, a true axe-master who shreds with the very best and also creates some utterly memorable riffs and leads. If Leone can best be likened vocals-wise to the daughter of J.D. Kimball, then Chastain is the son of Marty Friedman, or Jason Becker. And he's brothers, or at least cousins, with brilliant lead guitarist Andre Corbin, the man who gave Helstar the necessary touch of magic to craft Nosferatu. When David isn't shredding the material off his fretboard, he's dazzling the listener with riffs that embody the core essence of heavy metal, obviously forged from the same stuff that Adrian Smith has lying around (in spades). "Feel His Magic" indeed.

This album is a gem for lovers of technical guitar-playing and effortlessly strong, catchy traditional metal vocals. Leather Leone is, in my opinion, the best female metal vocalist there has ever been, while David Chastain is certainly near the top of the ladder as far as this kind of guitar mastership goes.