SEETHER – Holding On To The Strings Better Left To Fray

10 Q’s with the band

Wind-Up Records 2012

South African post grunge rockers Seether are back with their 6th album, the snappily titled ‘Holding On To The Strings Better Left To Fray’. It has been four years since the band’s last album which brought them both critical acclaim and commercial success and this latest release would appear to pick up from where ‘ Finding Beauty In Negative Places’ left off.

The album starts out with a real rocker in the shape of ‘Fur Cue’ which, for the uninitiated , is a perfect introduction to what the band are all about. The trio sound like a grunge infused Nickelback with great hooks and excellent vocals. Over the 19 tracks on offer here the band provide some great tracks whether in full rock mode on ‘ Tonight’ which reminded me of Jimmy Eat World or on ‘lighter in the air’ ballads such as the slow building ‘Pass Slowly’ and ‘Here And Now’ which has US smash hit written all over it.

There are plenty of highlights to savour on the CD, but the ones that impressed most were latest single ‘Country Song’ which has, unsurprisingly, country overtones, ‘Roses’ which is a hook laden rock song of the first degree and ‘ No Resolution’ which contains a solid riff and some tasty lead guitar work from Shaun Morgan.

The only slight blight on the album is the inclusion of remixed versions of ‘No Resolution’, ‘Roses’ and ‘Country Song’ which include a drum and bass style backbeat which wasn’t for me, but as these tracks are tagged on the end they are easy to avoid if you feel so inclined.

The copy I received also contains a 7 track DVD featuring Seether playing an acoustic session. The guys are in fine form, playing tracks both old and new including live favourites ‘Fake It’ and ‘Broken’ . The last two tracks though are ‘plugged in’ playing live at a radio station session which show the band in full flight which is impressive stuff.

Holding On…. is an album that should not only cement Seether’s current position but should see them gain further recognition and success if there is any justice. They are on tour soon and have also been confirmed for this years Sonisphere Festival which should also help to further the cause. 2012 looks like it could be a good one in the Seether camp.

****1/2

David Wilson

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