SEVEN BLOOD: Turning Scars Into Songs

Emerging from Germany’s vibrant alternative scene, SEVEN BLOOD have carved out a sound that is as cathartic as it is commanding. Their new album, Life Is Just A Phase which was released November 21st, captures the band at a pivotal moment, transforming personal crisis into collective strength. With raw emotion woven into every riff and lyric, SEVEN BLOOD offer listeners a sonic refuge for navigating their own emotional wreckage.

As they prepare to embark on a coheadline tour with Lastelle early next year, the momentum feels unstoppable. We sat down with guitarist OLI ARNOLD, vocalist AZARIA NASIRI, and bassist JOSI HILLE to explore the stories behind the record, the energy of their live shows, and the purpose that drives their music forward.

Despite the visceral weight of their band name, guitarist OLI ARNOLD insists there’s no hidden mythology: “It’s really not a deeper meaning behind it. We just thought the combination of these words comprises everything that on the emotional, verbal side of life makes most sense for us.” It’s blunt, raw, and fitting for a band whose music thrives on honesty.

The band’s creative process began not in a rehearsal room but over drinks. Vocalist AZARIA NASIRI recalls: “We first met to have a drink and just talked. We noticed, okay, we get along somehow. Let’s try to make music together.” That casual meeting led to their first writing session and their first single. Since then, their routine has been deceptively simple: coffee, conversation, and collaboration. ARNOLD laughs, “We drink a lot of coffee.” 

But beneath the humor lies something deeper. Writing sessions often resemble therapy, with hours of conversation before a single lyric is penned. “We just realised that sharing these topics from different angles makes a song lyric ready to connect for other people,” ARNOLD says. That connection is tangible. Fans approach the band after shows to say songs like House ≠ Home mirror their own lives. Themes of vulnerability and transformation run through the record. Asked whether they write about their past pains for themselves or for listeners, ARNOLD reflects: “It’s important for us and also for other people. This connection makes me happy.” NASIRI adds that the band’s lyrics are like a diary they collectively agree to release into the world. “When we write songs, it has to be something everyone can relate to. As soon as that’s settled, we just let it out.”

For SEVEN BLOOD, vulnerability isn’t weakness, it's literally the foundation of their bond. NASIRI remembers deciding to be “100% vulnerable” during their first session. “Luckily everyone got along and had an understanding. That gave me strength and trust for this group.” ARNOLD echoes the sentiment: “If you want to do it in an honest way you have to be brutally honest. That’s why we call it group therapy. As soon as you unveil this, it’s really a strength.”

When pressed to choose favorites from Life Is Just A Phase, the band members hesitate, each tied to different moments in their journey. Bassist Josi Hille cites Monsters, though admits she can’t explain why. ARNOLD gravitates toward House ≠ Home and No Breakout, praising their balance of anthem and vulnerability. NASIRI chooses Killing From the Inside, the band’s first song and Not Your Misery, for its explosive anger. ARNOLD also recalls the exhausting but cathartic creation of Fall From the Sky, written in a twelve-hour session that ended with NASIRI’s final scream late at night. “It was the last song we wrote, like writing the summary of your record,” he says.

Musically, SEVEN BLOOD’s influences are as diverse as their stories. ARNOLD cites NIRVANA’s Nevermind as a lifelong touchstone, while NASIRI recalls seeing PARAMORE live at 13 as her spark. HILLE points to AVRIL LAVIGNE’s Let Go as the record that made her pick up a guitar. Collectively, the band embraces everything from KENDRICK LAMAR to DUA LIPA, ARCHITECTS to SLEEP TOKEN. “It’s a great playground to love different kinds of music,” ARNOLD says.

With Life Is Just a Phase released, SEVEN BLOOD are preparing for their first coheadline tour with Lastelle, including a show at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston. “It’s a very special time for us,” NASIRI says. “Now it’s our name sitting on those tickets.” HILLE, ever practical, adds with a grin: For SEVEN BLOOD, because of their close proximity to their fans, the merch they create isn’t an afterthought. They insist on Fairtrade, high quality shirts they’d wear themselves, which is more than just a promise, it’s a reality as NASIRI laughs “It’s not planned, but actually I’m wearing our shirt today so don’t forget the merch table at the show.”

It’s clear from the ripples created across the scene from the release of Life Is Just A Phase that SEVEN BLOOD are a band to watch. ARNOLD leaves readers with a reminder: “Always keep in mind that life’s just a phase, in the good and in the bad times.

Words: Lou Viner-Flood

Photos: Anthony Molina

With thanks to: Seven Blood and The Noise Cartel