Review Summary: Karma and Effect is what I believe to be what Nirvana would've written if Kurt Cobain were still alive today. Packed with great metal guitar and grungy vocals, Seether have layed their mark on modern day metal.
Karma and Effect may very well be the only album in the world that is radio friendly yet still keeps metal-heads interested. Seether have defined their sound on this record as a band who can write songs that will get your head banging like
Because of Me or will help you drive safely home with the radio up full like
Remedy.
One of the great things about the singer/guitarist Shaun Morgan is that he can remind you of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain with his grunge rock voice. Songs like
Never Leave and
Truth are great examples of this. Shaun may be considered a Cobain wannabe but he can do something old Kurt tried many times and failed miserably. Scream. At the end of
Truth, Shaun reveals a great scream that marks his individuality.
Because of Me also proves his ability to scream while not sounding like someone skidding in dirt.
Now I know what you’re all thinking. Sure they can play but can they solo? The answer is yes.
Because of Me,
Truth and
Given all have beautifully written solos.
Because of Me has a shreddy sort of solo which at first may seem like it has no structure whatsoever but on closer inspection, it does. And a pretty good one at that!
Truth’s solo is more of a emotional solo which doesn’t prove much guitar skill but adds to the dramatic feel of the song. It has great rhythm and isn’t too long.
Given’s solo is like
Truth except way too short. Barely even a solo but it still gives this otherwise great track a cool little lead part.
Seether have gained a reputation of being able to write well structured, easy listening songs but emotion is rarely seen on this album. The emotionally strongest songs here would have to be
The Gift and
Tongue.
The Gift I find to be too long and boring. It does have some emotion and structure but I feel they had great chords and lyrics that have been put to waste.
Tongue starts out as a slow ballad sort of song but soon kicks into the usual Seether. It has great chord progression and beautiful lyrics. A great track.
Overall, this album is a must-buy for any Nirvana fan. I have mentioned some other non-Nirvana elements on this album but Seether have pretty much made what Nirvana would’ve made today if Kurt Cobain was still alive today. Maybe a little bit better…
Recommended Tracks:
Because of Me
Truth
Given
Tongue
