Released by: Fantasy Records
Release Date: September 20th, 2024
Genre: Rock/Grunge
Links: https://seether.com/
Line Up:
Shaun Morgan – Vocals/Guitar
Dale Stewart – Bass
John Humphrey – Drums
Corey Lowery – Guitar
Tracklist:
1. Judas Mind
2. Illusion
3. Beneath the Veil
4. Semblance of Me
5. Walls Come Down
6. Try to Heal
7. Paint the World
8. Same Mistakes
9. Lost All Control
10. Dead on the Vine11. Regret
This album marks the 9th installment from South Africa alt rockers Seether, showcasing their signature sound. Produced by lead singer Shaun Morgan and veteran producer Matt Hyde, this record is brimming with emotion and draws heavily on Morgan’s grunge influences.
The opening track, “Judas Mind,” feels like a blend of Deftones and modern Alice in Chains (particularly the Ranier Fog album). The Deftones connection is no surprise given Hyde’s involvement in this venture. The track reached the top 10 in the rock chart and is an excellent choice to kick things off.
The grunge feel continues through the second track, “Illusion,” where the band employs a disturbing vocal style and heavy guitar work to great effect. When asked about the song, bassist Stewart offers it as one of his highlights from the album, explaining, “With its hypnotic opening riff chugging away like industrial machinery, the haunting melodies in the chorus, and the all-out intensity of the bridge, I feel this song is a step forward for us while simultaneously being Seether through and through. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.”
One noticeable absence from this album is an acoustic number. My first encounter with Seether was their collaboration with Amy Lee for “Broken,” and that was what initially drew me to the band. It feels like an oddity having a Seether album without such a track. The final track list was whittled down from an initial 21, and the lack of an acoustic number was also commented on by Morgan, who stated, “I think this is the first album we’ve done that doesn’t have an acoustic song, which I didn’t realize until we’d finished. I was shocked.”
There are still elements of softer guitar work, albeit not acoustic. The intro to the final track, “Regret,” lacks the distorted feel of the early tracks of the album and provides a nice contrast.
Overall, this album has a heavier feel in some sections than its predecessors while also maintaining the band’s melancholy feel through the lyrics and the tonality of the vocals. This is evident in tracks such as “Walls Come Down” and “Try to Heal,” where heavy guitars give way to a focus on the emotional delivery of the vocals.
This album is likely to enthrall the Seether faithful and attract newcomers to their fan base with its blend of memorable hooks, driving rhythms, and unremorseful raw emotion.
Score: 7/10
Reviewed by: Dave Martin
SEETHER TOUR DATES
September 17 – Asheville, NC @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena
September 19 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six
September 20 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
September 21 – Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Event Center
September 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
September 24 – Chicago, IL @ Radius
September 26 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life ^
September 27 – Huntington, WV @ Marshall Health Arena
September 28 – Detroit, MI @ WRIF Riff Fest ^
October 2 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre
October 3 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Saint Louis Music Park
October 5 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall Lawn
October 6 – Dallas, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie
October 8 – Lubbock, TX @ Lonestar Amphitheater
October 9 – Albuquerque, NM @ Revel
October 11 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre
October 12 – San Diego, CA @ KIOZ Radio Show ^
October 13 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival ^
October 15 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
October 18 – Omaha, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater
October 19 – Des Moines, IA @ Vibrant Music Hall
October 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Armory
^ indicates non-Skillet show/festival date
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