Just four years after their popular 2020 record, Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, Seether is slated to release their newest effort, The Surface Seems So Far later this month on Sept. 20. At the same time, the band is kicking off a 18-date co-headling tour with Skillet to help support and celebrate the release.
There is so much to like about this 11-song record, which starts with “Judas Mind.” The four-and-a-half-minute song starts slow but quickly jumps right into a hard rock pattern. What is to become a returning theme on this record is the switch between a softer, quieter sound and back to hard and loud all within one song. The back-and-forth makes for a great and exciting listen for fans. “Judas Mind” walks the perfect line between hard rock and metal. It takes little time for lead singer, Shaun Morgan to showcase his voice by screaming at levels that would make metal legends proud.
“Judas Mind” slides right into “Illusion.” The song kicks off with chunky riffs from Corey Lowery which help set the foundation for the track. Morgan’s voice pairs perfectly with the wall of sound from the band and it’s an angry, hungry sound throughout the four-minute track. Like “Judas Mind” Morgan’s screams are truly incredible. By now, fans should be fully headbanging or moshing around like there is no tomorrow.
Track three “Beneath the Veil” unveils a great distortion on Morgan’s voice that proves to make the song stand out from some of the other tunes. At this point in the record, John Humphrey has done a standout job at keeping great, driving beats on the drums. Even with headphones on, listeners will be able to feel the sheer power as Humphrey smashes the cymbals and drums. This song should be added to listeners’ workout playlists. The overall force of sound makes listeners feel invincible.
For Seether, song four, “Semblance of Me,” is the band’s ballad. Lowery sets the tone for the tune with a slower guitar riff to open the song while Humphrey supports him with a beat on the drums to match. This is one of the best songs on the record. It’s lyric-driven and the band’s tightness on this song shines through the screaming lyrics of Morgan.
“Walls Come Down,” plays as the fifth song on the record. The song has a lighter side in vibes, in comparison to some of the other tunes. Lowery’s solo is excellent on this record. He’s able to play to the emotions and energy of this song to craft a memorable guitar solo. It’s enjoyable to hear the muffled electric shred in the spotlight on this song.
Song seven, “Paint the World” is as solid of a rock song as they come. It’s straightforward and pairs well with any of the other songs on the record. “Paint the World” is a great song to be placed right in the center of the record. It doesn’t outshine some of the heavy hitters on the “A-side” of the album but it’s good enough to stand on its own.
“Same Mistakes” is arguably one of, if not the, strongest songs on the record. There is a magical energy the band captures on this song which is apparent to the listeners. Lowery’s sound on this song is phenomenal. It’s loud and in your face but is also melodic and beautiful all wrapped neatly in the four-minute tune.
On song nine, “Lost All Control,” Morgan truly showcases the power of his voice. It’s one of the few songs where he doesn’t show off his patented scream. This song reveals how powerful and energetic his voice is when he isn’t showing off the wide range he has. This song also contains another full-fledged effort from the rest of the band. It’s another solid song that only buffs up the record.
The final song on the album leaves the record on an emotional note. Throughout the record, themes of melancholy and self-reflection can be heard. But, on the last song, “Regret,” it’s as if all the emotions on the record come to a boiling point and explode. The repetition of the lyrics hammers in the emotions that the band is going through. The song and record end beautifully as they let the last guitar note play out till it naturally fades. It’s the perfect way to end a record.
Seether’s The Surface Seems So Far is extremely emotionally powerful. The bone-chilling lyrics leave fans wanting to relisten to the record over and over reliving each separate feeling. The entire record walks the thin line between hard rock and metal that blends beautifully on The Surface Seems So Far. Seether has created a headbanger’s ultimate dream on this record and it deserves to be placed as one of the band’s best albums to date.
Rating:
7.5/10
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 Vine
11. Regret
Photo credit: Alex Berger
Seether Is:
Shaun Morgan – Lead Vocals/Guitar
Corey Lowery – Guitars
John Humphrey – Drums
Dale Stewart – Bass
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in New York/New Jersey and go to school in Connecticut majoring in Journalism and I am always looking for the next concert to attend.
