As I sat down to draw late this afternoon, I decided it was time give the new album from Seether a listen. I know it’s only been a little over a week since it’s dropped, but I felt like I shouldn’t delay this adventure any longer – and I was right to think that! Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum was a solid ride through the rock landscape for just over 50 minutes of my life, and I couldn’t ever regret it.
It seems like it hasn’t been all that long ago since Poison the Parrish was released, but I suppose three years is a very acceptable amount of time in between releases. I never got tired of the songs off of that record, especially “Betray and Degrade” and “Let You down,” so that’s why it felt like almost no time had passed. Anyways, their new outing sort of dials back a bit from the last record in terms of outright heaviness, and it’s definitely a welcome change. Sometimes I think back to when Seether was all over mainstream radio, (which, good for rock!) and just think about how nothing they put out now makes it over there. It’s a shame something good can’t be injected into the world of the mundane pop realm. Oh, well.
I bring up mainstream radio because I actually think a few of the songs off this record could actually make it there if a station was willing to give it a fair shot. In terms of sound, it reminded me a bit of their old stuff, and I liked the throwback to that time. With that being said, it still sounds new and also influenced by their more recent endeavors. Honestly, a few notes here and there in some songs also reminded me of 30 Seconds to Mars? (Confusing, but not unwelcome).
Despite the throwback to the lighter sounding days, the lyrical content of the songs are as dark as ever, and I always am a little concerned for Shaun Morgan’s well-being. He always seems in a good mood at shows and in interviews, so I’ll let the darkness slide. It’s all a form of expression and letting out emotions in a productive way. “Failure” is of lost love, while “Dangerous” is addressing morose feelings about life and others. Sort of how most people feel about the world right now.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen for all 13 tracks, and I really have no criticism to give! Really, the tone and themes addressed throughout the record are very consistent, and make for a cohesive effort. If you are a fan of Seether at any stage of their career, I encourage you to give this new album a listen.