[LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
From left, guitarist Kevin Byrd, bassist Aaron Sluss, vocalist Sabrina Cruz and guitarist Camden Cruz of Seven Kingdoms perform at the Orpheum in Ybor City. Drummer Keith Byrd is in back.
Seven Kingdoms, a Florida power metal band, gave guitarist Camden Cruz new purpose after head injuries ended a promising motocross career. It fulfilled his wife, Sabrina’s, dreams of a singing career. It gave brothers Kevin and Keith Byrd the courage to make important lifestyle changes. And it provided a family to bassist Aaron Sluss, who lost his parents and home in a tornado. But without a major financial turnaround, it could all come to an end.
Click here to read the full story on Seven Kingdoms
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[LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Camden Cruz looks over the band's merchandise table before a show at the Orpheum in Ybor City in May. Camden, a guitarist, manages much of the day-to-day operations of the band.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms guitarist Camden Cruz lays down guitar tracks with Kevin Byrd in June 2016 at North Avenue Studios in Orange City.
[LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Guitarist Camden Cruz performs during a show at the Orpheum in Ybor City in May. To his left is guitarist Kevin Byrd and vocalist Sabrina Cruz, Camden's wife.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms vocalist Sabrina Cruz, front, and Liz Laconis, right, girlfriend of bassist Aaron Sluss, prepare coffee in the kitchenette as their bandmates track bass and rhythm guitars in June 2016 at North Avenue Studios in Orange City.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms singer Sabrina Cruz performs during a live show in October at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Sabrina Cruz sings during a rehearsal in the band's practice shed in Winter Haven in October as Seven Kingdoms prepared for a handful of fall headlining dates.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Sabrina Cruz, left, and former Seven Kingdoms vocalist Bryan Edwards, right, sing together during a live shot at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand in October. Bryan continues to write lyrics for the band and occasionally joins them on stage.
[LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Bassist Aaron Sluss, left, exchanges a kiss with his girlfriend, Liz Laconis, right, at the merchandise table before a Seven Kingdoms show at the Orpheum in Ybor City in May.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms bassist Aaron Sluss, center, playfully sticks out his tongue at guitarist Kevin Byrd, right, during a show at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand in October.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms vocalist Sabrina Cruz,left, laughs as bassist Aaron Sluss, right, takes a sip of beer during a break in rehearsals outside the band's practice shed in Winter Haven in October.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms drummer Keith Byrd smiles while hitting a cymbal during a rehearsal inside the band's practice shed in Winter Haven.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms drummer Keith Byrd lifts his sticks in the air during a live show at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand in October.
[LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Seven Kingdoms drummer Keith Byrd fine-tunes his set before a performance in May at the Orpheum in Ybor City.
[LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
From left, guitarist Camden Cruz, drummer Keith Byrd and bassist Aaron Sluss prepare the stage before the band's performance at the Orpheum in Ybor City in May.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms guitarist Kevin Byrd jokes with bandmates during a rehearsal at the band's rehearsal shed in Winter Haven in October.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms guitarist Kevin Byrd closes his eyes while performing in October at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Drummer Keith Byrd's broken cymbals cover the outside of Seven Kingdoms' practice shed behind the Byrds' home in Winter Haven. Billy Byrd, father of Keith and guitarist Kevin Byrd, gutted the insides and added power, insulation and soundproofing.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Recording engineer Phil Pluskota mans the soundboard as Seven Kingdoms tracks bass and rhythm guitars in June 2016 at North Avenue Studios in Orange City.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
From left, Seven Kingdoms drummer Keith Byrd, guitarist Camden Cruz and bassist Aaron Sluss relax outside the band's practice shed during a break in their rehearsal in October in Winter Haven.
[Photo by Zack Wittman]
Seven Kingdoms vocalist Sabrina Cruz is illuminated in front of the crowd during a show in October at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand.