The Unseen is one of those early 90’s gritty, raw punk bands that had a series of changes and unfortunate occurrences that eventually led up to the creation of something completely new, yet masked as the same band. The Unseen of the 90’s was all about that heart-pounding 80’s hardcore, like Minor Threat and Black Flag. It lasted quite a long time, and over the years, the band got more political, and decided to tackle their own issues with a much different spectrum of leads, vocals, and musical approaches, all armed with minor components we’d see in today’s standards of “hardcore”.
The band’s newest release,
State of Discontent, is their heaviest release yet, and due to their history of average quality on their records, their cleanest, most crisp production to date. The band’s approach on the music on the album is surely to be admired by a large portion of their fans, while turned down by the fans of their 90’s, hardcore revival material. Either way, it’s very hard to deny that the musicians on this record have real talent, and use it to the extent that their genre meant for. No filler, no excuses, and certainly no half-assed songs about the president that simply don’t explain shit.
The first tracks on the album are fused into another, and work as a very lengthy introduction to the similar material that will later present itself. What the guitars spew out in the beginning of every track is what hardcore was always defined as. It’s a force that you can tell carries a rhythmic section, as well as a purpose. The riffs from tracks like
Scream Out and
Final Execution are brilliant, and while it belongs in the typical punk family of riffs that can start out such a heavy score, originality thrives, and it will seem clear that you’re not listening on just a whim.
Mark, the lead vocalist, does the risky work of carrying out the vocal message of the album. Combined with something as barbaric as thundering leads, and a seismic pattern from an 80s Pearl drum kit, Mark’s vocals can only be described as a rabid wolf, crying out a mix of hatred, complaints, and mixed feelings, all centering around modern society, freedom, and a very familiar corrupt government. Most of the lyrics on the album will appear as painfully familiar, but if given a chance, they will present themselves as enjoyable.
Paint It Black is the band’s take at the Rolling Stones song, and the presentation of Richards’ lyrics, by Mark’s vocals go sour in an instant, but if ignored, can show how musically outstounding the guitar-work on the lone, final track is.
A solid rhythmic section is also flashy during the album’s finer moments, all which seem to take place within a brutal closer, or breakdown.
Force Fed is a fine example of how well-placed each component can lie, and also spits out some of the best lyrics on the album. The repetition of this technique on the one-minute-pleaser
Flames Have Destroyed is just a marvel of a true punk revival.
What they feed you, is all lies...
And all you can do is wonder why.
Brainwash the masses with corrupt authority
You're led like puppets on a string
We live in a corrupted world
It's gonna fail, we're gonna die,
Don't read the papers, or watch the news.
Don't bother, don't view.-
Force Fed
The Unseen are simply excellent musicians, and they serve the genre well. Some guests star in a couple of tracks, working as even more fuel for another acrid chorus and marvelously-played guitar solo. The band’s change leading into the new millennium can be foreseen as both a small loss, and a small jump at something different, and something you shouldn’t be without on your daily activities; peel and orange, mug your boss…
The Unseen- State of Discontent:
Mark- Vocals
Tripp- Bass, Vocals
Scott- Guitars, Vocals
Pat- Drums
Stand Out Tracks:
Force Fed
Waste of Time
We Are All That We Have
Final Execution (Armageddon)
Paint It Black
Eat It.
4/5
