Review Summary: Still "Holding" onto Seether
I would like to start off by stating that I am a huge Seether fan. I have seen them in concert twice; both times they were amazing, played their songs the fans liked. That’s neither here nor there; this is a review of their new album Holding onto Strings Better Left to Fray. This is Seether’s first album since the major disappointment of Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces. For Seether fans everywhere that enjoyed Karma and Effect along with the Disclaimer twins, there is quite a bit riding on this album for them. The last thing fans want to happen to them is what Linkin Park did to their fans; completely abandon what got them famous, or likable, in the first place. So did Seether’s new album wash out the bad taste of Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces or did it taste just like dog ***?
1. Fur Cue – good song, dark guitars in the chorus (nothing new for Seether), Shaun screams in the verses or the chorus I can’t tell a difference, doesn’t feel like there’s a definite chorus to this song and that intrigued me when I heard it the first few times. The chorus never went BOOM to me; the song just flowed really well. It’s a typical Seether song, something for the old fans; this song definitely won’t be on the radio.
2. No Resolution – song starts off slow then kicks in to a good guitar riff and an alright solo, definitely wasn’t needed but a fresh way to start a song. Chorus, distorted guitars heavier everything then goes back to being softer. I think Seether was really trying to go for that “Gunslinger” by Avenged Sevenfold feeling in the song, start if off slow then just blast that *** in your face, try to make your eyes open up a bit. The song didn’t work like that for me it just felt bi-polar to me.
3. Here and Now – I ***ing hate this song. I don’t know why either. Its classic slow Seether and Seether usually does slower songs better this song just didn’t cut it for me. This song belongs in the end credits of a chick flick.
4. Country Song – We all know this song by now. It’s been on the radio for quite a while now. The country twang to it works in the verse and the chorus is great. I really enjoyed the song it’s different and it still projects Seether to me, this is how I wanted the entire album to go for me, to be different and still enjoyable. The kicker is that the song might not be that great of a song it’s the style that it was done that made this song so enjoyable. A highlight of the album.
5. Master of Disaster – it sounds like a Staind song, that’s the best description I can give it
6. Tonight – I had great expectations going into this song. I read a few in advance reviews and they talked about how this was a highlight of the album. I can definitely see that. I didn’t like it when I first heard it, it sounded way too pop like for me and too radio friendly, after about five for six listens it all changed for me. It really grew on me. It has a great chorus, the guitars are light and peppy a nice change from the darker Seether song.
7. Pass Slowly – This is a very slow song. It is incorporated with an acoustic guitar, slow distorted electric guitar, and strings if that hints to you at anything. Sentimental and cheesy, I’m sure it will get radio play, just didn’t cut it for me on this album. It was just a generic slow song.
8. Fade Out – Thank God we are back on track. The opening of the song is great. There is something different about this song; the drums are a stand out on this song. It’s a more up tempo song but still falls into the slower songs on the album. The guitars stay light and the drums go hard, it fits extremely well. Possibly my favorite song on the album.
9. Roses – I heard this song on YouTube a while ago. It’s a heavier song and I am happy about that at this point on the album, it was needed. The chorus really made this song for me. It’s an above average song on the album for sure.
10. Down – Love the guitar in the song. Not much to say about it. It sounded 100% Seether to me.
11. Desire for Need – This song feels like it was a track left out from Karma and Effect. I really enjoyed this track it keeps the roll going on the album, and Shaun screams in this song, welcome back scream.
12. Forsaken – The last song on the standard album, you know it’s going to be one of two things: very good or total suck. Like most of you know this song was leaked and you got it if you pre-ordered the album. I really enjoyed the song, I thought the chorus was done very well and fit the tone of the album as it was ending. The album got noticeable darker in the last few song and I felt it was a pitch perfect ending to the album.
So was Holding onto Strings Better Left to Fray an epic win or a total failure? It was neither (bet you didn’t see that one coming!) It’s definitely better than Finding Beauty, quite a bit better. The old Seether fans won’t be totally satisfied with the album but you can see Seether is finally finding their newer sound that they are trying to find (I know that’s confusing). The good news, it’s a very good album, the bad news, it’s not Karma and Effect or the Disclaimer twins by any means. It gets the job done, it will please both fan bases this time. The old Seether fans will be more pleased than the radio Seether fans which is a win.
