Metal Reviews

I posted this in my latest mini-reviews thread, but I think it would be good for this thread. Not very traditional in the stoner rock sense, but it's excellent.

SEEMLESS – WHAT HAVE WE BECOME (Hardcore Stoner Rock)


I always find it odd when a band finally hits “the big time” and key band members quit. Back in 1998 Kilgore, formerly known as Kilgore Smudge (and Stain, and Smudge before that), released A Search For Reason; the album took off, landing the band a slot on Ozzfest, giving them a quickly multiplying fan base. Then, after seven years, as the band was on the rise, vocalist Jay Berndt abruptly quit the band. Kilgore’s days were over.

Similarly, Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage followed a similar path. After the band hit it big with Alive Or Just Breathing, he abruptly quit the band in 2002. Killswitch Engage carried on, tapping Howard Jones of Blood Has Been Shed to take up the (inferior) vocal slot. Jesse Leach resurfaced a few years later in Seemless, a band featuring ex-members of Shadows Fall, Overcast, and another ex-Killswitch Engage alum, singing on their self-titled debut album.

The band follows a similar path tread previously by Only Living Witness, a cited influence. They combine hardcore and groovy rock riffs that often border on stoner rock. Vocally, Jesse Leach only touches on his previous metalcore style, opting here for a soaring, cleaner tone. The debut was already written when Leach joined the band; What Have We Become is the band’s first collaborative effort with Leach. This album is heavier than the last, more raw, but still groovy as hell with a hardcore sensibility; evident on tracks like “In My Blood,” “Cast No Shadow,” and “Seven.” A good dose of melody accompanies “Eyes Of A Child,” “Parody” and the album closer, “…Things Fall Apart.”

What Have We Become is another great album that just falls short of the greatness showcased on the debut. However, there’s nary a reason to not check this one out.

Rating: 75/100
Website: http://www.seemlessband.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/seemless
Downloads: Cast No Shadow (from What Have We Become), Numb (from What Have We Become), Cast No Shadow (Video from What Have We Become) and Lay My Burden Down (Video from the self-titled debut)

I just ordered Blood Of The Sun's new album. Sounds like it's going to be great!

http://www.myspace.com/bloodofthesun

I thought Colour Haze's Tempel was an awesome retro-rock type album. I don't know if anyone else here has ehard of them though...

www.myspace.com/colourhaze

Is it IMPOSSIBLE for people to discuss music on this board without someone trying to one-up the other person with a better suggestion? It happens all the time here. Someone suggests a band and almost immediately other people start suggesting bands. Four pages later, no one has discussed any of the music; nor has anyone listen to one damn suggestion!

I can't think of much else to say. I've liked The Sword for a couple of months. They're hella sludgy; sound like a combination of sabbath, mastodon and the melvins. I've been meaning to listen to Baroness for like a million billion years because I randomly read an interview and they said they liked Neurosis and the Melvins and recorded their EPs in one take live in studio.

One upping someone is the greatest achievment in a mans life!

I listened to that Blood Of The Sun, it was good. I liked the keyboard/organ thing they had going on

"oooh yeah im burnin!"

You forgot to link another band.

I didnt feel like it. We arent in the right section for me to even attempt to one-up you

Check out this badass new song:

RUNNING

I just finally ordered Earth Flight EP from Hellride Music. I can't wait to get it. I've been listening to "Awakening" and "Ain't My Deal" for months and months now; they never get old.

Damn good band. With any luck I'll be seeing them along with the mighty Clutch and Taint in April