Will We Ever Be Happy Again With Linkin Park? | Rocked
After releasing One More Light, is the Linkin Park we used to love gone for good? Will we ever be happy again with Linkin Park?
Projected “Ignite My Insanity” Scheduled For Release July 21st
PROJECTED IGNITE MY INSANITY SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE JULY 21ST
Band Comprised Of Sevendust guitarist John Connolly and bassist Vinnie Hornsby, Alter Bridge/Creed drummer Scott Phillips and Tremonti guitarist Eric “E-Rock” Friedman Return With Double Album Now Available For
Pre-Order At: http://www.ratpakrecords.com/Projected
(May 25th, 2017 – New York, NY) – It might have taken five years, but Projected return with their sophomore double-length release, Ignite My Insanity on July 21st via Rat Pak Records. The two-disc collection is currently available for pre-order in various configurations at http://www.ratpakrecords.com/Projected. Ignite My Insanity is the long awaited follow-up to the 2012 self-released debut album, Human from the band comprised of Sevendust guitarist John Connolly, Alter Bridge/Creed drummer Scott Phillips, Sevendust bassist Vinnie Hornsby and Tremonti guitarist Eric “E-ROCK” Friedman.
Ignite My Insanity features 21 all new tracks from Projected and continues to build upon the sound the band established with their debut. It is an album designed to resonate with fans from the member’s original projects and guaranteed to garner new fans along the way. From the melodic piano interlude of the opener “Strike” to the raucous ending of closer “Battlestations,” the new album takes the listener on a journey inside the minds of the band. Songs like “Six Feet Below,” “Gomorrah,” “Inhuman” and “Upside Down” are infectious rockers. The first single “Reload” is a frenetic composition that showcases the musicianship of these accomplished performers. Alter Bridge/Tremonti songwriter Mark Tremonti co-wrote “Rectify” and “Call Me The Devil” and Sevendust’s Morgan Rose co-wrote “Concede” with the band.
On the subject of Projected’s new record, John Connolly comments, “There are four very strong personalities in this band. Everyone has been in the business doing various things, from Alter Bridge to Creed to Sevendust to Tremonti and it took all those elements and sounds to make this album what it is!”
Scott Phillips adds, “We’re all part of other bands that we’ve put our heart and soul and life into and this was just a chance to extend that into somewhat of a different direction.”
Guitarist Eric “E-Rock” Friedman comments, “When I think Projected, the first words that come to my mind is a very raw and honest band. Things aren’t overthought. It’s very organic.”
Says bassist Vinnie Hornsby, “We’ve been playing so long together, you know it’s kinda’ like a marriage to a certain degree, it really warms my heart to be able to play with my friends and these great musicians.”
The track listing for Ignite My Insanity is:
Disc 1 Disc 2
1) Strike 1) Fire
2) Reload 2) Ignite
3) Six Feet Below 3) Call Me The Devil
4) Vain 4) Concede
5) Rectify 5) Inhuman
6) Faith 6) Better
7) Gomorrah 7) Hate You Back
8) Heaven Above 8) Upside Down
9) 10 Years Gone 9) Seconds
10) Only 10) Inside The Sun
11) Battlestations
Projected formed in 2012 when longtime friends John Connolly (Sevendust), Vinnie Horsnby (Sevendust), Scott Phillips (Alter Bridge/Creed) and Eric “E-Rock” Friedman (Tremonti) decided to create some music together. While all members are successful in their mainstay bands, Projected afforded the members a chance to explore some different ideas musically. In September 2012, the band self-released their debut album Human and is currently looking for breaks in their respective schedules to bring the music to their fans in a live setting.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ProjectedBand
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Projected1 (@projected1)
STONE SOUR SHARE “SONG #3” OFFICIAL VIDEO
STONE SOUR SHARE “SONG #3” OFFICIAL VIDEO
PRE-ORDERS FOR HYDROGRAD AVAILABLE AT ALL DSPS AND WWW.STONESOUR.COM
NEW INTERNATIONAL ‘HYDROGRAD WORLD TOUR’ DATES ANNOUNCED
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ALONGSIDE KORN BEGINS JUNE 16TH IN SALT LAKE CITY, UT
HYDROGRAD ARRIVES EVERYWHERE FRIDAY, JUNE 30TH
Breakthrough rock act Stone Sour has unveiled the official music video for “Song #3.” The video, which was directed by Ryan Valdez, is streaming now on Stone Sour’s official YouTube channel. “Song #3” has stormed onto the Active Rock Radio Top 10, logging over a million streams on Spotify alone, in only four weeks. The track is featured on Stone Sour’s highly anticipated new album, HYDROGRAD, which arrives everywhere June 30th.
Recorded at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, CA with producer Jay Ruston, HYDROGRAD features the lead tracks “Song #3” and “Fabuless” which are available now at all DSPs and streaming services. “Fabuless” is joined by an official music video, directed by Paul Brown, which has amassed over 3 Million views on Stone Sour’s official YouTube channel.
HYDROGRAD is available for pre-order at all DSPs and via www.stonesour.com, with all pre-orders accompanied by instant grat downloads of “Fabuless” and “Song #3” (see tracklisting / album art attached). Exclusive pre-order merch bundles are also available at www.stonesour.com.
Stone Sour has also announced new headline dates for an international leg of their ‘Hydrograd World Tour’ which will kick off November 10th with a performance at Moscow, Russia’s Stadium. For complete details and ticket availability, please visit www.stonesour.com.
This past Thursday Stone Sour made their return to the stage, kicking off Columbus, OH’s Rock On The Range with a sold-out show at Express Live! Next month Stone Sour will celebrate HYDROGRAD with an epic summer trek alongside fellow Roadrunner recording group Korn. “The Serenity of Summer Tour” gets underway June 16th at Salt Lake City, UT’s USANA Amphitheatre and then travels through early August (see tour itinerary attached). Presented by Live Nation, support throughout the eclectic tour comes from Babymetal, Skillet, Yelawolf, Islander and Ded. Furthermore, Stone Sour has several festival appearances slated for this summer including Rock Fest (7/14), Rock USA (7/15), Chicago Open Air (7/16) and more. For complete details and ticket availability, please visit www.stonesour.com.
Stone Sour unleashed their eponymous debut album in 2002 and was immediately confirmed as one of the most significant hard rock outfits of the 21st century. The self-titled release earned RIAA gold certification while singles “Get Inside” and “Inhale” each received GRAMMY® Award nominations for “Best Metal Performance.”
COME WHAT(EVER) MAY followed in 2006 and proved an even greater accomplishment with a top 5 debut on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 and a #1 entry onto Billboard’s “Rock Albums” chart. The acclaimed album spawned still another GRAMMY®-nominated single in “30/30-150” on its own way to RIAA gold certification. COME WHAT(EVER) MAY unleashed a series of rock radio classics, including “Sillyworld,” “Made of Scars,” the #1 hit, “Through Glass,” which spent seven weeks atop Billboard’s “Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks” while also reaching #2 on “Alternative Songs” and the top 40 on the overall “Hot 100.” The song’s companion video was also a favorite, now with over 48 million individual views at YouTube alone.
Stone Sour’s most recent all-original releases, the monumental HOUSE OF GOLD & BONES – PART 1 and HOUSE OF GOLD & BONES – PART 2, both made top 10 debuts on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 just six months apart from one another – the band’s third and fourth consecutive top 10 chart entries. The two-part concept album yielded a string of multi-format rock radio hits, including the top 5 favorites “Absolute Zero,” “Do Me A Favor,” and “Tired,” the latter of which ascended to #1 at Mainstream Rock outlets nationwide.
HOUSE OF GOLD & BONES drew widespread critical applause with ArtistDirect hailing “PART 1” as “a milestone for Stone Sour and for modern rock music. It’s on par with Alice In Chains’ ‘DIRT,’ Metallica’s MASTER OF PUPPETS, Queens of the Stone Age’s SONGS FOR THE DEAF, Soundgarden’s SUPERUNKNOWN, and any other game-changing albums you can think of.” HOUSE OF GOLD & BONES – PART 2 earned equally great acclaim, including placement on Revolver’s “Top 20 Albums of 2013” and Loudwire’s “Top 10 Rock + Metal Albums of 2013” ranking. The Guardian, in its four-out-of-five starred rave, praised Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor’s “remarkable transformation into heavy music’s premier polymath and renaissance man” while further hailing the album’s “towering melodies and moments of radio-friendly majesty, the band’s trademark straddling of the divide between metal and commercial rock sounding increasingly adroit.”
2015 saw the arrival of STRAIGHT OUTTA BURBANK, an unprecedented EP in which Stone Sour take on five immortal songs originally performed by such iconic artists as Bad Brains, Iron Maiden, The Rolling Stones, Mötley Crüe, and Slayer. The EP is highlighted by a stunning rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” featuring distinctive guest vocals from Lzzy Hale of Atlantic recording group Halestorm, STRAIGHT OUTTA BURBANK is available now at all DSPs and streaming services.
Known far and wide as a truly incendiary live act, Stone Sour has built an international fan following through countless headline tours, multi-artist caravans, and performances at such famed festivals as Rock In Rio and the UK’s Download Festival.
Stone Sour is: Corey Taylor (vocals), Josh Rand (guitar), Roy Mayorga (drums), Johny Chow (bass), and Christian Martucci (guitar).
Riffage: Twisted Sister – We’re Not Gonna Take It
The Dom & I find out why parenting a child in the 80’s was brutal!
Album Review: 3TEETH – Shutdown.exe
A review on the sophomore album (and possible malware program) Shutdown.exe from 3Teeth.
https://vimeo.com/218159001
Text Review:
Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, these are names when you think of dark industrial rock. Last year a band came on the scene with some bite in the industrial sound called 3 Teeth. Their album Shutdown, or technically a program if you use the executable format, could be a new contender in one of rocks more ignored and rarely acknowledged sub-genres. In 2016 3 Teeth went on tour opening for Tool and were exposed to a lot of new people while getting the blessing of one of the biggest bands in the world. It was shortly after this tour with Tool and Primus that the band started writing and recording new material that would lead to this new album. And that material they wrote not only captured the industrial sounds reminiscent of the early 90’s, but with it came a detailed concept album about shutting down the consensus of what is considered “real”.
Shutdown in itself is a dark, cynical and at times comical look at our reality. While looking at the world in a negative way is not exactly new in the current rock scene, actually making a story about shutting down our connection to what makes our society and interactions the way they are is something that can actually be played with and thought about. Putting all THAT do heavy industrial rhythms and electronics adds to the stories tone. I feel like bands are not pushing bigger concepts like this, or at least a majority of them are not. The rock scene is filled with many bands that have a pessimistic look stating, “My life sucks” or “You suck” but rarely now do we hear a band talk about society and how we need to disassociate with current schemes that could have a negative impact.
There have been several songs already released from 3 Teeth’s sophomore album and each one of them is a fantastic example of both the style that 3 Teeth delivers and the overall sound of Shutdown. Along with their crazy but fantastic music videos it feels like 3 Teeth want to make a lasting impression with this album and the title track holds that industrial banner proudly.
The title track hits hard and has just about everything any industrial fan who is longing for the early 90’s style could want. The synthesized drums and guitar are hypnotic and Alexis Mincolla’s vocals add this hazy distorted sound with just the right amount of elevation into the chorus. It is industrial to the core and in my opinion, it works well as a feature track but it still is not the highlight of the album. Don’t get me wrong, I like “Shutdown” the song, but while you listen to the album in entirety you are pulled into the gravity of this album in many strong choruses and hooks that hit hard. Tracks like “Degrade”, “Voiceless” and “Atrophy” are instantly memorable and make you feel like you are listening to the soundtrack of a Matrix like film.
This style of music is supposed to create a feeling that you are in a dark setting and to a certain extent in a dystopian or future environment. 3Teeth nails that emotion in this album. You hear this depraved anger throughout Shutdown the album and you get the intended concept of breaking the chains of society and detaching from what our culture has become.
I love the powerful chorus in Degrade. The buildup in the rhythm to a shout of the title is intense and striking. The lyrics are brutal, talking about spitting on the young and burning alters. 3Teeth pulled no punches in getting dark and a bit shocking in their writing to go along with their music. “Atrophy”, “Tower of Disease”, “SlaveGod”, all of these insert imagery of an impending downfall and it works here. The album does take a couple tracks to get into, but once you are past the opening songs “Divine Weapon” and “Pit Of Fire”, you are fully sucked into the rhythm that this concept program creates. In 13 tracks at just under an hour, 3Teeth completely engulf the listener in a world created by the minds of some extremely creative individuals.
3Teeth may not be reinventing the wheel in terms of industrial rock, but the band definitely has a style that is refreshing and becoming unheard of in 2017. For lack of a better phrase, this is the exact kick in the teeth that rock and even metal can use in terms of edge; both regarding the electronic sound and overarching concept to connect songs. Overall, Shutdown.exe is the fierce and dark album that industrial fans have been wanting in 2017. If you are looking for something loud and rhythmic and are willing to be slapped in the face by some dark lyrics and concepts, then let 3Teeth grab you by the throat and drag you away from your current concept or reality.
Monster Energy Rock Allegiance 2017 Lineup Announced! Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson & more!
ROB ZOMBIE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, MARILYN MANSON AND HALESTORM LEAD MUSIC LINEUP FOR THIRD YEAR OF NORTHEAST’S BIGGEST ROCK EXPERIENCE
FESTIVAL RETURNS TO PHILADEPHIA AREA OCTOBER 7, 2017
AT BB&T PAVILION AND WIGGINS WATERFRONT PARK
TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 AT NOON ET
The music lineup, along with food and beverage highlights have been announced for the third annual Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, Saturday, October 7 at the festival’s new location at BB&T Pavilion and Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ.
The Northeast’s biggest rock experience will feature over 20 bands on three stages, along with mouth-watering, Philly-centric food offerings, regional and national craft beer, band meet-and-greets, autograph signings, and more for fans from around the country to immerse themselves in rock and roll culture.
The current music lineup for Monster Energy Rock Allegiance is as follows: Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson, Halestorm, Mastodon, Gojira, In This Moment, Steel Panther, August Burns Red, Beartooth, Starset, Radkey, Bleeker, Badflower, DED, While She Sleeps, Black Map, Greta Van Fleet, He Is Legend, Biters, Them Evils, and more to be announced.
Zoltan Bathory of Five Finger Death Punch said, “Rock Allegiance has become a staple on the U.S. festival circuit. It’s one of the coolest festivals out there for fans to discover new music and see their favorite bands live. We are excited to return this year to see our friends and fans in Philly. Don’t miss it! It will be another great one this year.”
Lzzy Hale of Halestorm commented, “We are so excited about being a part of Rock Allegiance 2017! We’ve been busy writing new music for our next record and have been missing the stage. We cannot wait to see all of you and give a loud offering to the Rock N Roll gods!!”
Tickets for Monster Energy Rock Allegiance will go on sale Wednesday, May 24 at Noon ET at www.RockAllegiance.com and www.LiveNation.com. See below for ticket purchase options.
Monster Energy Rock Allegiance is proud to support beer entrepreneurship with a celebration of local breweries and specialty drafts hailing from throughout the nation. The initial lineup of regional and national craft beers at Monster Energy Rock Allegiance is as follows: 21st Amendment (San Francisco, CA), Dogfish Head (Milton, DE), Founders (Grand Rapids, MI), Neshaminy Creek (Croydon, PA), Oskar Blues (Longmont, CO), Spellbound (Mount Holly, NJ), Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA), Unibroue (Chambly, QC), and Victory Brewing Company (Downington, PA).
The initial food lineup for the festival includes: Baby Blues BBQ, Chickies & Pete’s, Nico’s Pizza and More!, Sum Pig Food Truck, The Cow and The Curd, Trent’s Treats, with many more to be announced.
Monster Energy Rock Allegiance is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents in association with Live Nation.
“We are honored to be working with DWP again as we welcome Rock Allegiance back to the area for its third year,” said Geoff Gordon, Live Nation Philadelphia Regional President. “And we couldn’t be happier that they chose BB&T Pavilion and the Delaware River Waterfront as the festival’s new home.”
General Admission and VIP tickets will be available for purchase starting Wednesday, May 24 at Noon ET, starting at the following prices:
VIP: $135.00
Reserved: $49.50
General Admission Lawn: $44.50
Monster Energy Rock Allegiance VIP tickets include:
- Great seats in the 100 level of the Main Stage / Pavilion for the headlining four band performances
- Commemorative Rock Allegiance 2017 VIP laminate
- VIP entrance to the festival
- VIP hang areas on the Battleship New Jersey, Blackbox and BB&T Pavilion lounge (space limited at each area)
- Exclusive VIP restrooms, special food and beverage offerings (for additional purchase), and exclusive VIP Afterparty on the Battleship New Jersey (space limited).
During the first portion of the festival, all seating will be general admission. For the headlining four bands, the Main Stage / Pavilion will be assigned seating based on the ticket purchased.
Discounted online hotel rates are also available through Curadora. Visit www.RockAllegiance.com for details.
The festival is fueled by Monster Energy. Additional sponsors include FYE, Roadrunner Records, Razor & Tie, Century Media and Another Century, with more to be announced soon.
For more information on Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, visit:
Website: www.RockAllegiance.com
2017 Video: https://www.facebook.com/rockallegiance/videos/1445098198884909/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockallegiance
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockallegiance
Instagram: www.instagram.com/RockAllegiance
Hashtag: #RockAllegiance
MONSTER ENERGY HOUSTON OPEN AIR RETURNS OCTOBER 14 & 15 AT NEW VENUE IN TEXAS
MONSTER ENERGY HOUSTON OPEN AIR
RETURNS OCTOBER 14 & 15
AT NEW VENUE
THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION IN THE WOODLANDS, TX
MUSIC LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT COMING JUNE 12
Monster Energy Houston Open Air will return to the Houston area Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman in The Woodlands, TX. The music lineup for Texas’s biggest rock experience will be announced Monday, June 12 at 8:30 AM CT and tickets will go on sale Friday, June 16. Visit www.HoustonOpenAir.com for details.
After encountering challenges due to inclement weather at the 2016 Houston Open Air debut, festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents have reaffirmed their commitment to the Texas rock community and the Houston area, and look forward to returning in 2017.
In addition to over 25 bands performing on multiple stages, Monster Energy Houston Open Air features multiple onsite experiences.
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman is an outdoor amphitheater surrounded by lush forests located in The Woodlands, TX, approximately 30 miles north of downtown Houston.
Website: www.HoustonOpenAir.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HouOpenAir
Facebook: www.facebook.com/houstonopenair
Instagram: www.instagram.com/houopenair
About Danny Wimmer Presents: Since 1993, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he formed Danny Wimmer Presents, which now produces several of the largest rock and alternative festivals in the U.S. By combining A-list talent with local cuisine and culture, DWP has become recognized within the industry for delivering the highest-quality entertainment experiences to fans, artists, sponsors, partners and host cities. DWP creates memorable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both consumers and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already stellar portfolio, which includes Rock On The Range, Monster Energy Aftershock Festival, Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, Louder Than Life, Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, and Chicago Open Air, among others.
About Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Advertising & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
About Monster Energy: Most companies spend their money on ad agencies, TV commercials, radio spots and billboards to tell you how good their products are. At Monster Energy, we chose none of the above. Instead we support the scene, our bands, our athletes and our fans. We back athletes so they can make a career out of their passion. We promote concert tours, so our favorite bands can visit your hometown. We celebrate with our fans and riders by throwing parties and making the coolest events we can think of a reality.
Rancid video for “Telegraph Avenue” Out Now; New Album “Trouble Maker” Released June 9th
Rancid has shared another new song and video today, this time for the band’s political anthem “Telegraph Avenue”. Akin to the video for the band’s previous shared song “Ghost of a Chance” the video features the band getting together and playing in a garage.
The new Rancid album Trouble Maker is to be released on June 9th via Hellcat/Epitaph Records. This is the ninth studio album for the punk legends and the follow-up to 2014’s critically acclaimed …Honor Is All We Know. Trouble Maker was produced by Rancid’s longtime producer and founder of Epitaph Records, Brett Gurewitz.
Trouble Maker will be available on CD, digital, and vinyl formats. The deluxe digital version will include two bonus tracks “We Arrived Right On Time” and “Go on Rise Up”. A vinyl deluxe version of Trouble Maker comes with those tracks on a bonus 7”. Pre-orders are available at rancidrancid.com.
Emerging from the blue-collar swamps of Berkeley, California, Rancid has now been a living, breathing punk rock band for over a quarter century. Back in 1991, after the demise of their much beloved first band, Operation Ivy, founding members Tim Armstrong (vocals, guitar) and Matt Freeman (bass, vocals) decided to do the impossible — start an even better band. Thus, Rancid. Signing with Epitaph Records, the band released their first album Rancid in 1993. Shortly thereafter, Lars Frederiksen (vocals, guitar) joined the band, because… well, are you going to tell him he can’t? The result, in 1994, was Let’s Go.
In 1995, Rancid released the classic platinum selling …And Out Come The Wolves. You still remember when you first heard it. They followed with the even more ambitious Life Won’t Wait in 1998, and in 2000, Rancid released another album entitled Rancid, just to see if anyone was paying attention. After Indestructible in 2003, Branden Steineckert (drums) joined to solidify Rancid’s current line-up. They subsequently released the albums Let The Dominos Fall (2009) and Honor Is All We Know (2014).
Through it all, Rancid has remained fiercely independent, never losing their loyalty to community or each other. Their music confronts political and social issues, while balancing personal tales of love, loss, and heartbreak with attitude. Rancid gives their listeners a community where everyone can belong. By carrying on the traditions and spirit of the original punk rock bands that came before, Rancid has become a legend an inspiration to punk bands that have come after.
As previously announced, Rancid and Dropkick Murphys will be co-headlining From Boston To Berkeley Tour, kicking off July 27 in Bangor, ME and wrapping August 26 in Southern California. Each night will culminate with Rancid and Dropkick Murphys on stage together for a joint encore. Additionally, Rancid will tour this summer with Green Day in the UK and perform at select European summer festivals. Worldwide tour dates listed below.
Rancid Trouble Maker Track List:
1. Track Fast
2. Ghost of a Chance
3. Telegraph Avenue
4. An Intimate Close Up Of A Street Punk Trouble Maker
5. Where I’m Going
6. Buddy
7. Farewell Lola Blue
8. All American Neighborhood
9. Bovver Rock and Roll
10. Make it Out Alive
11. Molly Make Up Your Mind
12. I Got Them Blues Again
13. Beauty of the Pool Hall
14. Say Goodbye to Our Heroes
15. I Kept a Promise
16. Cold Cold Blood
17. This is Not the End
18. We Arrived On Time (bonus)
19. Go On Rise Up (bonus)
Papa Roach – Help | Riffage | Rocked
The Dom & I watch the miserable life of a dirty, filthy bunny.
Check out The Dom’s channel by clicking HERE!
https://vimeo.com/217380453
Album Review: Seether – Poison The Parish
A review of Seether’s heavier and more honest seventh album Poison The Parish.
https://vimeo.com/217203549
Text Review:
Seether is one of the bands who have stood the test of time while staying consistent to their sound over 15 years. Poison The Parish, the band’s seventh full album already is destined to feature several singles on mainstream rock radio airplay as just about every Seether album has since 2002 with Disclaimer and the many songs that put them on the map. I myself have not kept up with Seether throughout the years as devotedly as their large fanbase has. My introduction with Disclaimer definitely got me to notice them as something but I admit I found the band as hit and miss depending on the album or radio single that was frequently featured. Now in 2017 however comes something a bit more honest and deep with Poison The Parish.
Seether’s new album is intended to be a deeper venture from the band than in the past and claiming to be the band’s heaviest album yet. In the press release for the album, Shaun Moran described it by saying “We want to bring back musicality, playing loud, and the importance of having something to say that you can stand behind. It’s about honesty in your music.” On paper, this sounds fantastic. A band who has been around the world and had successful albums and awards earned all while keeping a respected name in the world or rock, is going to release an album that is honest. In a world of gimmicks and pandering to a dedicated audience by faking your image, in comes a successful band like Seether wanting to make real music that can connect with someone.
What people will be drawn toward on Poison The Parish is the advertised heavier style. The promoted singles “Let You Down” and “Stoke The Fire” definitely show Shaun Morgan in his screaming element. The music behind him in both of these singles flows from a groove to a hard rock chorus. “Stoke The Fire” especially works as an album opener because of that grooving into a growl. Of the two released singles, I prefer “Stoke The Fire” as it feels like a newer style of Seether that we haven’t heard as much of. I don’t think “Let You Down” is bad but it is definitely a status quo from the band, where “Stoke The Fire” the drum and bass build up in the verses leads to a strong chorus with a great hook in the “I bet you can’t” chant. The bridge into the repeated “Who’s going to stoke the fire” being screamed tops it off.
The first half of Poison The Parish follows suit in this harder style. The second track “Betray and Degrade” sounds similar to the single “Let You Down” in style, and “I’ll Survive” has the same groove into a loud chorus like “Stoke The Fire”. It’s after the heavier tracks play when this album shines though, as it’s some of the slower and more melodic songs that are the most memorable.
While I was listening through Poison The Parish I would come across songs like “Against The Wall”, “Emotionless”, and “Sell My Soul” and not be able to get past them without an immediate second listen. Lyrically these songs prove the emotional honesty that was talked about and they will be the gems that come off this album. “Against The Wall” especially is one that needs to be sought after and could possibly be a future single that shows Seether in a different light.
I really like this song. The guitar is fluid in the verses and this track at just under four minutes goes quickly as you are swept in the atmosphere of the song. I understand that Poison The Parish is being sold as heavier, but the moments like this are the ones that need to be highlighted and not ignored as these are the best part of the album. The heavier tracks throughout Poison The Parish, especially as the album goes into the second half with tracks like “Nothing Left” and “Count Me Out” start to sound extremely similar. It gets repetitive quickly. The redeeming qualities though are the slower songs with a great build and the overall lyric writing throughout the album, which is a HUGE step up from Seether from the past several albums.
I’m honestly not sure if this is going to be considered Seether’s heaviest album to date, but some points I can definitely make is that Seether stepped it up on their seventh album by getting more emotional in the lyrics and by playing more than one style of mainstream radio rock. Seether gives some energy in the volume of songs like “Stoke the Fire”, but it’s the style of “Against The Wall” that should gain Seether some respect. Overall, Poison The Parish offers a solid performance in their upfront delivery. While there are some tracks that have the standard sound that Seether have been known for playing for over a decade, there is also material here that would make any rock fan happy. If you haven’t listened to Seether in years, Poison The Parish is the one worth giving a shot.
