Style: Post-Metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Doom Metal (Harsh Vocals)
Recommended for fans of: The Ocean, Cult of Luna, Isis
Country: Greece
Release date: 14 January 2026

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The broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) is known for, well, their seven gill slits. A whole two more than most other sharks! Why is this important? I have no idea. Formerly known as the cow or mud shark, the sevengill is a stealthy predator, traversing lazily along the seabed. By minimizing their movements, sevengills are able to conserve their energy and explode upon their prey in violent bursts. Don’t be fooled by their often lethargic appearance, though; their sharp, jagged under teeth and broad, comb-shaped upper teeth allow them to devour nearly anything that fits in their mouth. Rays, crustaceans, and seabirds have all had bad times thanks to this ocean beast.

The Greek post-progressive metal outfit Sevengill emerge from the depths with their first full-length record, Penumbra, after releasing the EP Sea in 2022. By apparently crafting their sound to mirror the movement of the sevengill shark, these Greeks are in no rush, so you might as well sit back and enjoy this dawdling swim. Penumbra contains three largely instrumental songs running between twelve and fifteen minutes, along with the short synth interlude “Ballata.” The harsh vocals are few and far between; a remora passenger fish that is along for the ride with the musical host. Sevengill gives birth to their musical themes as pups and nurtures them slowly to maturity. That is to say, like most post music, patience is required. You fast and furious tech-death Mako sharks can move onto open waters—there is nothing here for you. The success of this musical approach, however, is dependent on the payout at the end of the build-up. Like an anglerfish, Cult of Luna and Isis lure you in slowly with the promise of a tasty snack, only to end up devouring you pitilessly. Within Penumbra, these gradually evolving, expansive sections do not always result in the full musical conclusion that is promised. For example, as the band fades to a quiet isolated guitar in the mid-section of “Oathbreakers,” there is an implied promise of a tsunami building. The waves, however, never break but rather calmly dissipate as the song ends, leaving the listener unfulfilled. 

Those of you here for the hunt, though, don’t you worry: this shark devours its prey when hunger hits. “The Last One” displays Sevengill reaching their musical potential through a fifteen-minute epic that draws you in with clean guitar melodies and deliberately builds to a satisfying feeding frenzy. When the vocals finally arrive in the closing section, it’s the sound of the band efficiently hunting as a pack, leaving no living creature on the ocean floor in their wake. “The Last One” demonstrates what was missing in both “Oathbreakers” and “For the Sun”—a climax to the gliding musical themes. “Ballata”, the interlude track, provides an appropriate bridge between “Oathbreakers” and “For the Sun” with a fitting murky oceanic atmosphere. The crescendoing gongs at the end of “Ballata” emulate sand being thrown up from the ocean floor by the whipping shark’s caudal fin. Speaking of oceanic atmosphere, one can not accurately discuss Sevengill without acknowledging the importance of The Ocean. The early sections of “For the Sun” and “Oathbreaker” could have come out of the writing sessions from Pelagial or Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic. The influence that the collective had on Sevengill is clear, though future releases would benefit from developing more of their own voice, swimming free of The Ocean’s shadow.

While the broadnose sevengill shark can go weeks between meals, Sevengill would be better served more regularly demonstrating their inner predator and consistently fulfilling grand conclusions to their slowly built musical tension. At forty-four minutes, there is musical bloat from repetition here that plagues the sea of rather forgettable post-progressive albums. That being said, Penumbra satisfies, and fans of The Ocean and Cult of Luna will find Sevengill’s sound right at home. So swim at your own pace, you bottom feeders, just don’t forget to stop for a bite every once in a while.

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Recommended tracks: Oathbreakers, For the Sun, The Last One
You may also like: Neànder, Anciients, Dvne, LLNN, Bossk
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Independent

Sevengill is:
– Alex Tsitsimpis (vocals, guitars)
– Antonis Mantis (bass)
– Giorgos Gotzamanis (drummer)