Review: Seer – Vol. 1 & 2
Feb 01
Seer – Vol. 1 & 2 (Doom/Stoner, Art of Propaganda)
Released 1/22/2016
As this reviewer knows well, living in the Cascade region of the Pacific Northwest is a unique experience and allows for some interesting perspective when drawn upon for artistic expression. Majestic mountain ranges, dense rainforest, and a culture that prides itself on its close relationship with the natural world around it provides a wealth of inspiration, a type of which that is perhaps only shared with our nature-loving metal brethren in Scandinavia. One only has to look at the natural evolution of Cascadian black metal for that observation. Taking this region’s geographic grandiosity in a slightly different, and much more laid back (though certainly no less heavy) direction is the British Columbia group Seer, who have recently released their debut collection of atmospheric and groove-laden stoner/doom metal, Vol. 1 & 2.
Combining two EPs (Volumes 1 and 2 respectively, if the title didn’t make things clear enough), Vol. 1 & 2 casts itself across a fairly wide swath of musical territory, even if the diverse influences are not immediately apparent. Opener ‘Glimmervoid’ is about as low down and dirty as it gets, featuring a heavy stoner metal vibe that takes its queues equally from the deserts of Southern California as it does the bayou basements of the NOLA sludge scene. When the following track, ‘Hive Mind’, smoothly raises its head from the last mores of the opener it’s no surprise that the segue is so seamless since these are the two tracks that comprise the Vol. 1 of the album, though things are slowed down somewhat into a much more solidly doom territory. The Vol. 2 section of the album shares the same mindset in terms of vibe and feel, though in an often lower-key delivery. All the cleaner, mellowed music happens here, with the exception of ‘Antibody’, which sound like something akin to Orange Goblin jamming with Baroness; and though the music certainly shifts to an opposite gear, it is by no means less interesting.
It’s only appropriate that a group of men from the Cascade Mountains of British Columbia would end up sounding like a band of heavy metal lumberjacks when they pick up some instruments, which is certainly the image that comes to mind when being caught in the thundering, bole-breaking riffs that comprise the heart of songs like ‘Glimmervoid’ and ‘Antibody’. It’s also appropriate that there is an equal representation of laid-back mellow music that seems to float listlessly along as though drifting in from the Pacific forests, as these two moods so accurately reflect the surroundings from which the music was born. That said, the presentation of the music in terms of sequencing might be the only flaw on the ‘album’; the first part seems to promise a direction that isn’t followed up on, due to opening with the two heavy-fisted and balls-out tracks of Vol. 1, while much of the later section is a different and more tamed beast altogether. There is nothing wrong at all with the individual songs themselves, but the record may have been better served by opening with one of the ‘chill’ tracks first, thereby building the listening experience up to the giant grooves of the heavy tracks before letting them back down with the already-perfect closer, ‘Aeons’.
Nevertheless, Vol. 1 & 2 is a promising debut by a band that has proven to know their way around crushing chords just as well they do gently strummed melodies. The production suits the sound as well, having punch and thickness when it’s needed and a broad overhead during the lower-key moments to provide a nice dynamic range. With sequencing and general flow being the only nitpick, it would be easy to imagine the band crafting a more cohesive platter of mountain-man metal when not simply slapping two EPs together, so here’s hoping for a broader imagined effort next time these boys enter the studio.
Conclusion: A great debut that offers a well-rounded and worthwhile listening experience, especially if you like your metal heavy while still being able to chill-out to.
