Customer Reviews

What Have We Become

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Opinions on the first self-titled release by Seemless were polarized. Fans loved it, while reviewers in general could not understand it or get into it. They wrote it off as nu-metal that was trying too hard to imitate the past.

With Seemless' second album, What Have We Become, the band once again is labeled as one with no care for the current state of rock n' roll. Well, this reviewer welcomes this album, solely because Seemless plays rock n' roll that is quite unlike what you'd hear on the mainstream radio these days.

But don't get me wrong: this album is polished to a shine, and it definitely would sound perfectly at home on the corniest of cloned radio stations. But if you consider Seemless to be a replacement for Audioslave - since Audioslave has turned musically retarded and decided to become motivational speakers singing feel-good songs like "Be Yourself" - it's obvious that Seemless is a huge improvement from what's popular right now.
Featuring former Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach and drummer Derek Kerswill, one would probably expect the music to be somewhat similar. This is not the case whatsoever. Seemless is much less heavy, features more blues rock riffs, and is most accurately described as a blend of Killswitch Engage's grittiness and commercial-friendly radio rock.

It is to be lauded that the band places heavy emphasis in their roots and draws upon classic bands like Led Zeppelin. More modern influences from grunge bands, such as Soundgarden, are evident as well. But even though the record label would like you to believe it, the truth is that Seemless is nothing brand new. They just play a style of old-school rock n' roll that is slowly making its way back and exercising power over the current state of nu-metal trash.

- VIVIAN HUA

This a great album for people who are into an uptempo sludge album. Some of the riffs sound like they're are coming straight out of the swamps of Louisiana, while the vocals take you on a different trip. The whole experience is overwhelming. Check them out if you like stoner, grunge, or sludge.

but I have to even the 3 stars out. This album is one of those when you first hear it, it's like 'Meh..it's ok'. But like all great albums, it takes awhile (or in my case several years) of not listening to it for it to catch you off guard. When you actually listen to it and let it soak in, it's actually really good..Give it a try. 4.5 stars

It's a great album, but it gets a bit repetitive. Not much of a change from the first album's formula: melodic verses and driving choruses, the occasional scream but usually a very Chris Cornell yell, and groove oriented guitars and rhythm section. If you like hard rock in a slightly more "stoner" vein than Soundgarden, you'll enjoy this. The last song makes the record, the jam out at the end is very much Pink Floyd without being too derivative. Worth picking up, check them out live too.

I saw these guys open for The Sword and Trivium at Slim's in San Francisco a week or so ago. I'd never heard them before, but I was impressed with their performance. They can really rock. The singer has great vocal variety, in some places reminding me of Chris Cornell on Badmotorfinger, in other places sounding more like a watered down version of Meshuggah's singer, and in some places sounding downright "Sweet Home Alabama." Musically they're alternative metal, with a bit of the grunge sound from the early 90's but quite a bit deeper and more complex, and harder edged.

But I bought this album at the show and was disappointed. Not that it's a bad ablum, but when I popped this into my CD player on the drive home, I couldn't believe how little of the live energy was missing on the recorded album. It almost sounded like a different bad. So, I can't say it's a bad band or a bad album, but obviously these guys can do better. Maybe the production is just kind of poor. I don't know, I can't put my finger on it for sure, but the vocals don't jump out at you like they should. The guitar and bass and drums sound pretty good, but they just don't jive with singer and he's muted. It's too bad, the vocals should be showcased just as much as the rest of it. The bad is talented, they get only 3 stars instead of what they should get... which is 5... had they made this album as good as it should have been.

BUY this album...these guys are headed for stardom...leach is one of the best vocalist of this era...not to mention the killer riffs and beats that lace this album...pay attention to these guys and watch them grow into a monster...if you like screaming and moaning vocals about death murder and incest then stay away from seemless...if you like lyrics and vocals that will shred your face then you better buy up...

Rock should rock. This is derivative of the greats that came before them. Go get Goatsnake I and you'll see what I mean if you don't already own it.