My personal reflection on the history of The Seventh Gate and Palkoski

Discography The Seventh Gate:

 

1. The Bane Of Your Existence                                              Demo (2001)

2. Satan Rock                                                              Demo (2001)

3. None So Bloody As The Kingdom Of Christ                    Full-length (2001)

4. Cheap Sex And Painkillers                                     Full-length (2003)

5. Portrayal Of An American Terrorist                                   EP (2005)

6. Folie á Trois                                                                        Full-length (2006)

7. Folie á Trois (made for labels only)                                    Demo (2006)

8. AOTTMLHDYETP?                                                          Full-length (2007)

9. Shamans Of Luciferan Misanthropy                                   EP (2009)

10. Cogito Ergo Doleo/ Horrors Of The Divided Mind         Split (2010)

11. Random Antagonist Complex                                          Full-length (2010)

 

 

Lineup The Seventh Gate:

 

Steven Kerchner                                                         vocals (2000-2010)

 

Nick Ellis                                                                    guitar, backing vocals (2000-03), bass                                                                                                guitar (live) (2003)

Davis Mullen                                                               guitar (live) (2003)

Todd Wuehrmann                                                       guitar, backing vocals, bass guitar (studio)                                                                             (2004-2010)

 

Paul Littlefield                                                                        drums (2000-01)

Julia Wall                                                                    drums (live) (2001)

Mike Beer                                                                   drums, backing vocals (2001-07/08)

Skip Marimow                                                                        drums (2008-10)

 

Andre Weldy                                                              bass guitar (2000)

Ashley Stride                                                              bass guitar & backing vocals (studio)                                                                                                 (2001)

Edson Guerro                                                              bass guitar, backing vocals (2002-04)

Dan Boyd                                                                   bass guitar (2005-07)

Ron Fezzy McGinnis                                                  bass guitar (studio) (2006, 2007)

David Frantz                                                               bass guitar (live) (2006-07)

 

Scott Nussman                                                                        noise (live) (2006)

Tim Otis                                                                      chants, percussion (studio) (2006,2007)

Katie Brutal Boyle                                                      voice (studio) (2006, 2007)

Brendan Mackalooloo                                                 vocals (studio) (2006, 2007, 2010)

                                                                                                (live) (2009)

 

The Seventh Gate first came into fruition in 2000 when vocalist Steven Kerchner joined forces with guitarist Nick Ellis, drummer Paul Littlefield and bassist Andre Weldy. After honing their skills in rehearsals and on the live front, time finally arrived in 2001 for the band to hit the studio. That year The Seventh Gate unleashed two demos, 'The Bane Of Your Existence' and 'Satan Rock', as well as their full-length debut, 'None So Bloody As The Kingdom Of Christ'. By then Weldy had left and was replaced by Ashley Stride. She, however, only appeared on the recordings, prompting Edson Guerro to join the fold in 2002. Keep in mind that during their existence The Seventh Gate didn't always have a bass player, neither live nor in the studio. Hence there are sections in their history where no 4-stringer was around.

 

Julia Wall stepped in to cover for Paul for a live show which he couldn't attend. Eventually Paul departed The Seventh Gate and Mike Beer was unveiled as the new sticksman. Not long after this another change occurred when Edson Guerro joined on bass guitar. As time rolled on work commenced on full-length number two, 'Cheap Sex And Painkillers', which came out in 2003. Around this time guitarist Nick Ellis left with Davis Mullen stepping in for some live shows until Todd Wuehrmann arrived in 2004. The revolving door situation continued shortly afterwards when Edson Guerro departed leaving the band without a bass player for probably a year, meaning that when 'Portrayal Of An American Terrorist' was recorded the band was back to being a three-piece. Todd would play bass guitar whenever needed though. Eventually Dan Boyd stepped in somewhere during 2005 and it was during his tenure, the latter part of it, I first encountered the band.

 

While I was visiting my girlfriend, and future wife-to-be, in Maryland in the summer of 2007, we decided one day to be tourists down in Baltimore. As the day wore on and evening approached with us still being in town, she took me to this tiny but awesome basement venue called The Sidebar as a show was scheduled there. Several bands were on the bill, none whom I had ever heard of before since this was grindcore and extreme metal, something I wasn't well versed in at the time. After all was said and done one band stood out and that was The Seventh Gate. Before and after their brilliant set we hung out a lot with their singer Steven Kerchner. Our conversations gave a lot of insight of the band and it helped to trigger a growing fascination for the music they played. That, plus we had a damned good time!

 

With Dan in the band they released two full-lengths, 'Foile á Trois' and 'AOTTMLHDYETP' in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Not to forget the demo-version, or shortened version, of 'Foile á Trois' which was sent out to labels only. Although Ron Fezzy McGinnis from Admiral Browning played the occasional studio bass in 2006 and 2007 for them. As did David Frantz whenever help was needed on the live front. Some time toward the end of 2007 or early 2008 drummer Mike Beer left and Skip Marimow, a band mate of Steven Kerchner from Ol'Scratch, was drafted in 2008.

 

In 2009 the brilliant EP 'Shamans Of Luciferian Misanthrophy' saw the light of day followed in 2010 by 'Cogito Ergo Doleo/ Horrors Of The Divided Mind', a split with Finns Concrete Icon. The same year also saw the release of 'Random Antagonism Complex', full-length number 5 which also commemorated the band's 10-year anniversary. At this point The Seventh Gate had written a lot of songs about a fictional character called Frank Palkoski. This degenrate person appeared around since about 2003 but didn't appear in any recorded songs until 'AOTTMLHDYETP?'. Once he did he took over the life of the band. Therefore at their tenth anniversary show it was announced that The Seventh Gate were no more. Instead this show was the birth of Palkoski. As it turned out this was  one of Skip's last shows as Nick Crisostomo, previously with Immortal Decay and later with Khaotika (double duty) eventually took over amidst the birth of the new band.

 

Discography Palkoski:

 

1. Random Antagonist Complex                                            Full-length (2010)

2. The Oblivious Ape Who Covets His Own             Full-length (2011)

3. Palkoski 2012 Demo                                                           Demo (2012)

4. RAC & TOAWCIO                                                           Full-length (2012)

5. The Shittiest CDR You've Gotten From A Shitty             Demo & Noise EP (2013)

     Metal Band

6. 62 Tracks Of Trash                                                 Full-length noise (2014)

7. Never Again                                                                        Full-length (2016)

 

Lineup Palkoski:

 

Steven Kerchner                                                         vocals, aux drums, noise (2010-2016)

 

Todd Wuehrmann                                                       guitar, backing vocals, piano (2010-2016)

 

Helena Goldberg                                                         bass guitar, backing vocals(studio) (2011)

Greg                                                                            bass guitar ( ?-2016)

 

Skip Marimow                                                                        drums (2010)

Nick Crisostomo                                                         drums, backing vocals, accordion (2010-                                                                                           2015)

 

Davis Mullen                                                               vocals (studio) (2016)

 

Jessica Bateman                                                                      flute (studio) (2011)

 

The newly formed band picked up right where The Seventh Gate left off with the exception of going even heavier and faster, as well as focusing wholly on the insanely deranged world of Frank Palkoski. 'Random Antagonist Complex' was re-released under the new moniker before touring and the constructing of a new album ensued. 'The Oblivious Ape Who Covets His Own'saw the light of day in 2011 which featured Akris and Lord bassist Helena Goldberg on the song 'For Those Of You Not Invited To My Funeral...This Is The Business Of Not Inviting You To My Funeral'.  Palkoski stuck to the trio format throughout their existence although former The Seventh Gate man Davis Mullen would sing one song, 'The Sand' on the last release 'Never Again'. Oh let's not forget Greg though, who was the unofficial fourth member of the band. The guy is fictional and an internal joke which went so far that the guys contemplated making a cardboard cut-out of him and put on stage. 2012 also witnessed the birth of a demo, 'Palkoski 2012 Demo'.

Eventually Palkoski unveiled an extensive CD titled 'Random Antagonist Complex & The Oblivious Ape Who Covets His Own' which is those two releases put together on one disc. This was followed by 'The Shittiest CDR You've Gotten From A Shitty Metal Band'. A crammed- packed recording which was given away at shows. Another release, a noise concoction, was unearthed in 2014. '62 Tracks Of Trash' is in reality just noise and talk capturing the band on tour just talking trash. Palkoski then got busy working on new material and the creative juices flowed freely. Enough songs were recorded to make not just one new album, they actually had enough songs almost ready for a second CD or perhaps an EP. While discussions were underway which way to go – one CD or two, drummer Nick went out on tour with his other band, Khaotika. Sadly tragedy struck and it struck hard. On April 6th 2015, the van which carried Khaotika and their tour mates Wormreich was involved in a car accident killing Nick and two members of Wormreich. Palkoski ceased to exist there and then although almost a year after this tragedy 'Never Again' was released posthumously on March 18th 2016. Containing the unfinished 4-track EP ''Reflections' as well as the hour-long song '…....' which is split into 17 parts, making 'Never Again' a great eulogy for Nick Crisostomo. As it was, this was also the official closure of Palkoski.

 

-Swedebeast