Citing post-rock, ambient, hardcore, and sludge as the primary influences, they create a sound similar in vein - but also very different - to bands such as Rosetta, Cult of Luna, and Isis, with their own unique take on it all. 2008 saw the release of their first album Every Ocean Reversed, mastered by Magnus Lindberg from Cult of Luna.
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Seven Nautical Miles was formed in 2005 by guitarist Simon Wärja and drummer Johan Nordlund in the north of Sweden when the interest for their thrash metal band ended. They wanted to make something different, something with greater emotions than the past pig-kicking could evoke. After a few rehearsals their long time friends Mikael Holmberg and Robert Holmström which played guitar and bass showed their interest. Robert shared the same taste and visions, and Mikael felt like a natural step, since he and Johan had been partners in crime for a long time. SNM still needed a vocalist. Dag Falkman had made a good impression on the guys in SNM, playing in various hardcore / screamo acts, after one rehearsal Dag got the gig completing the symbiosis. Under the name Oceans Have No Memory they recorded a demo. The future looked good...
Only after a few shows Dag moved south leaving the band without a singer, but as a gentleman as Dag is, he introduced SNM to his friend Mathias Öystilä, singer in the great Luleå act Re Vera. SNM had seen Mathias playing with Re Vera so they knew he was perfect to replace Dag.
But still there was something missing... "How are we supposed to play all these melodies and riffs on only two guitars?", they said. "We need another guitarist! But who would that be?". Mathias knew the answer to that question: Henrik Nyström, who played guitar in Re Vera. Said and done, Henrik added his own touch to the songs with odd tunings and an energy on stage that was perfect in line with Seven Nautical Miles.
In 2007 record label Sound Devastation Records showed their interest in SNM, who still went under the name Oceans Have No Memory. After mailing back and forth it was agreed, SDR will release the debut album.
The band name had to go, but the band liked the idea of a name withholding water, but "Oceans Have No Memory" didn't feel right. Since it was about 13 kilometers (approximately seven nautical miles) to the rehearsal hall it was obvious that Seven Nautical Miles was the right name.
SNM recorded the album during the winter of 2007 and spring of 2008. The artwork was made by Pierre Johansson (artwork for Breach) and Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna) mastered the album.
September 22th, 2008, "Every Ocean Reversed" was released. SNM immediately went on a tour in Sweden to promote the debut album.
http://www.sevennauticalmiles.com
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Landscapes
Seven Nautical Miles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not to interfere within my landscapes
Did I not let you be?
Did I not leave you for me?
I can see a thousand rivers better than this one
I need a storm to blow me away
Who can see the brighter morning?
I have to end this pain today
The lyrics of Seven Nautical Miles's song "Landscapes" explore the theme of letting go and moving on from a past relationship. The opening line, "You were ought to stay, forever, away," sets the tone of the song, implying that the singer wanted the person to stay out of their life completely. The second line, "Not to interfere within my landscapes," suggests that the singer has built a life without that person but still feels their presence. The next two lines, "Did I not let you be? Did I not leave you for me?" evoke a sense of confusion and frustration, as the singer questions why the person is still affecting their life despite their efforts to move on.
The second stanza of the song further explores the idea of wanting to leave the past behind and start anew. The line, "I can see a thousand rivers better than this one," implies that the singer is seeking new experiences to help them forget the past. The following lines, "I need a storm to blow me away, Who can see the brighter morning?" suggest a desire for a dramatic shift or change to help them move forward. The final lines of the stanza, "I have to wash this face away, I have to end this pain today," indicate a sense of urgency and determination to move on from the pain of the past.
Overall, "Landscapes" is a poignant exploration of the difficulty of letting go and moving on from a past relationship. The emotive lyrics are supported by melancholic instrumentals, including haunting piano and strings, which add to the song's wistful tone.
Line by Line Meaning
You were ought to stay, forever, away
You were never supposed to be a part of my life permanently.
Not to interfere within my landscapes
I didn't want you to disrupt the world that I had created for myself.
Did I not let you be?
Didn't I give you the freedom to do as you please?
Did I not leave you for me?
Didn't I end our relationship so I could focus on myself?
I can see a thousand rivers better than this one
I have seen better opportunities than the current situation.
I need a storm to blow me away
I need something drastic to shake up my life.
Who can see the brighter morning?
Who can predict what the future holds?
I have to wash this face away
I have to forget about the past and move on.
I have to end this pain today
I can't keep living in agony and have to end it now.
Contributed by Blake V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.