Seemless - Seemless
By Mark Hensch

Seemless - Seemless
Label: Equal Vision Records 
Rating: 

Grungy stoner rock outfit Seemless hardly seem like they would hail from Boston, MA. The deserts of the southwest would make more sense, with their airy, rocking, and gritty sludge rock sound. Mixing the grunge metal hybrid that is stoner rock with political
and sociological undertones, amazingly dirty riffing, funky solos, and downright righteous rock music, Seemless will (God willing) explode in the underground rock world and take it by fire.

Possessing a pedigree few bands could ever hope to match, Seemless has so much raw talent it's hard to believe that this album is nothing but a year-old re-release of their debut courtesy of Equal Vision Records. Fronted by Jesse David, who once sang for melodic metal band Killswitch Engage, many will now be able to see Jesse's amazing ability to yowl, screech, croon, and sing. Pete Cortese carries Seemless with his bluesy metal riffing and solos, and he once played in the original lineup of hardcore legends Overcast. Drummer Derek Kerswill (along with Cortese) played in Medium and a small band just starting out called Shadows Fall.

Only bassist Jeff Fultz has no previous band experience, and from his jamming with the other members, one would not be able to tell;  Seemless drops jaws in a way only most older bands are able to do.

"Intro" is one of those worthless filler pieces; Seemless sets the mood with some quiet space riffs that gain intensity as the "song" wears on and later a drum beat begins right as the next track starts. "Something's Got to Give" has a start-stop riff of pure grunge and some bluesy refrains which rock hard and should get some feet tapping. The mellow, airy verses give a chance for Jesse David to spout sociological laments bemoaning the lifestyles of people in our country. By song's end, things have been kicked into overdrive and a driving stoner rock riff is thrashing wildly as Jesse screeches like a mountain lion. 

"The Wanderer" is an upbeat and lively song that has a lot more energy then the previous tracks. An amazing guitar solo will knock your socks off towards the end, as it starts and stops and squeals with manic fury. 

"Soft Spoken Sanity" is a mellow and near-purist stoner rock anthem with spacey vocals, group choruses that rock, and crooning over wickedly sludgey riffs. "Endless" is a quiet and stunningly poignant little ballad, with ethereal and deep space effects on each guitar note as Jesse David croons softly and in mourning fashion. Seemless doesn't let even a tiny-little ballad silence their penchant for thrashing, as later on the band breaks into full-on slow rock jamming. 

"The Crisis" sounds like an angry melding of Soundgarden and random grunge bands. "Lay My Burden Down" is a favorite of mine, straight-up stoner rock and bluesy lyrics making the perfect tune for a band like Seemless. The pissed off rock breakdown finds Jesse David growling in a depressed outro that he is going to "Lay My Burden Down/This is What it is to Bleed." The equally amazing "War/Peace" is a grungy Rage Against The Machine song, sounding like a social activist version of Soundgarden as well. It makes an excellent folk song for the Queens of the Stone Age generation. 

"In My Time of Need" is one of the weaker tracks, pretty much basic music from the band that doesn't really push their limits or comfort zones at all, with the exception of some more great funk guitaring interludes.

 "All is Not Lost" is an acoustic filler track, and nothing too special. "In This Life" is one of the hardest rocking songs on the entire album, and is an excellent finale of sorts. There is also a bonus track, a live song called "Maintain," a bluesy feedback monster that sounds really freaking good for a live song.

After all is said and done, Seemless can easily blow a hole or two in your wall. Metal heads or hardcore kids expecting some more Shadows Fall, Killswitch, or Overcast tunes better not get their hopes up. Seemless seems content to defy the past and move on ahead with some excellent stoner rock tunes. Sounding at times like Zeppelin, Kyuss, or (most notably) Soundgarden, people looking for soulful rock music will feel right at home with this stuff. If you like riffs so down and dirty in the mud it makes you shower after a listen, and solos straight from the days of rock since past, Seemless will fit like a glove.
 

Seemless - Seemless

Tracks:
1. Intro
2. Something's Got to Give
3. The Wanderer
4. Soft Spoken Sanity
5. Endless
6. The Crisis
7. Lay My Burden Down
8. War/Peace
9. In My Time of Need
10. All is Not Lost
11. In This Live
12. Maintain (Live)
 

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