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By GREG MAKI
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Seemless and their second album, What Have We Become, is that they bear not even a passing resemblance to any of the members’ other bands. To let you know what not to expect, singer Jesse Leach fronted Killswitch Engage on its first two albums, drummer Derek Kerswill previously hit the skins for Shadows Fall and guitarist Pete Cortese is part of the newly reformed Overcast, which also features Shadows Fall frontman Brian Fair.
Though the members of Seemless have been knee-deep in the Massachusetts metal scene for years, this band plays a style of Soundgarden-like hard rock powered by Leach’s bluesy vocals. His talents, which were wasted as a screamer, shine on this disc. The band is a tight unit, with no one member seeking the spotlight but each stepping up to the plate when a song calls for it. Highlights include the rollicking opener “In My Blood,” the moody, environmentally-conscious “The Deep Below,” the bass-heavy groove of “Maintain” and the Sabbath-like chug of “Parody.”
What Have We Become goes down easy—maybe a little too easy. On first listen, nothing jumps out, grabs the listener’s ears and refuses to let go the way the best songs do. But the material is strong enough to warrant multiple spins on your CD player.
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