From unsigned upstarts kicking up a storm on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock to signed act on the cusp of releasing album number three, things are looking good for Seething Akira. Their sound changed somewhat with the addition of a new guitarist between Sleepy Skeletor and Dysfunctional Wonderland, so has this progressed with Nozomi?
Overall impressions of the album as a whole would lead me to say “yes”, but not as much as the difference between the first two releases. The more mainstream rock/metal sound that moulded Dysfunctional Wonderland is definitely more present on some songs (opener “Never Permanent” verges on radio friendly), but the dancey madness that was their signature sound definitely hasn’t left. “Metaphors” starts like it’s going to be a decent rock song then bang the mental hits and I’m transported back to Sleepy Skeletor. “Something in the Water” has a similar mix, though the frenetic sections are more metal. Hell of an ending, though. Bang. Your. Head.
“Lost At Sea” reminds you that the band can do gentle and thoughtful as well as head-smashingly bonkers. Some of their best older work fell into this category (“The Islander”… wow) and this is a brilliant way to keep this extension of their sound going. The guitar solo towards the end is genuinely goosebump-inducing. “Reason to Breathe” is a power ballad with rappy bits and as such has to be unique. It works as well.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
The driving force of “Internal Agonist” makes this a prime contender for a future live favourite, the bonus being the heartfelt refrain in the chorus. For a good idea of the blend of styles, check out “Punishment Instructions” below. It’s as perfect an example of the crossover aspect of Seething Akira’s sound as you’re going to get on this album.
“Dioxide” just thrums along before the album ends perfectly with “Stars”. This song was just written as the perfect climax. It has that “bringing it all together” feeling like the triumphant serenade at the end of the film as the credits hit.
While I do still yearn for the old Skeletor days, I can’t find fault with Seething Akira’s approach to album three. You can’t go making the same sound forever, and with this new step towards being genuinely cross-genre and not “genre-shoving-together” they’re going to appeal to an even bigger audience. And they deserve to. Step up and let Nozomi hit you like the train it’s (possibly) named after.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Nozomi is out on November 11th
Check out all the bands we review in 2022 on our Spotify and YouTube playlists!
Seething Akira: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | youtube | bigcartel
