This little album arrived with press blurb informing me that Seether is currently the hottest band in the US. Admittedly the promise of hearing what the vast majority of the population of the States are into fills me with a sense of dread rather than eager anticipation.
However, further investigation reveals this South African four piece come with some impressive credentials. Having released their debut album ‘Disclaimer’ in 2002 the band toured their asses off until the album went gold in the US.
Then in 2004 they had a surprise cross-over hit with a re-recorded version of their ballad ‘Broken’ as a duet between singer Shaun and his girlfriend Amy Lee of Evanescence. A hastily “expanded” version of the album, ‘Disclaimer II’, was released which also went to gold giving them the first debut album ever to go gold twice.
‘Karma & Effect’ is the second (or third depending on how you look at it) album from Seether. The single ‘Remedy’ has already shifted 500,000 copies and become the year’s biggest airplay hit in the States. So to the moment of truth, are they going to be as ball less and depressing as some of the other big hitters of the US rock world (Staind spring to mind).
The best songs on this album are the ones that rock out. Opener ‘Because of Me’ is heavy but Shaun’s vocals give the songs more of a grungy metal angst sound than pure metal or rock. ‘Remedy’ has a head tapping hook and Shaun sounds even more like Kurt Cobain on this one. The mellow beginnings of ‘Truth’ give way to a great metal guitar riff and ‘Burrito’ is a meaty snack that delivers a lovely unhealthy dose of metal angst. Anther catchy heavy track is ‘I’m The One’.
My only criticisms of the album are that there are a few too many slow songs that trundle along and get a bit lost. ‘Never Leave’ and the ‘World Falls Away’ are two prime suspects. However, for a heavy band, they pull off ballads well; not too cheesy and fake with just a hint of balls in the chorus, unlike some lesser bands (see previous Staind reference). ‘The Gift’, ‘Tongue’ and ‘Plastic Man’ are all pretty good for sappy ballads.
So in summary, they are a cut above the Stainds and Nickelbacks of this world. They can do meaty rock and they can do the ballads for the chicks and the sensitive guys. They are good despite Americans liking them!
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