Listening through the five track magnum opus that is Impermanence by Boston’s SEA and I’m brought back to the last beast that Neurosis unleashed in 2016 and pondering how much can be said within a seemingly small amount of tracks. It also helps if the tracks within each of those fall on the gargantuan side once again proving: less is more!
But I digress!
Comparisons aside with those West Coast legends, SEA make their own bid at a lasting musical legacy with the hauntingly epic Impermanence that transcends genres and combines everything from Post-Rock and Shoegaze to Doom and Black Metal. Sometimes managing to merge all those sounds in one song even as is the case with opener “Penunmbra” which is just the gnarliest, most gorgeous composition to start an album with as it soars out of the stratosphere.
“Shrine” brings it all crashing back down to this earthly plane, though, and is downright beastly. Like the soundtrack to herald the coming of some monolithic monster in a movie with droning yet broad passages and vocal harmonies that truly bring the aural goods as an ominous mood permeates throughout and overall brings to mind some of Old Man Gloom’s finer moments.
“Ashes” is divinity with Liz Walshak’s vocals seemingly beautiful to start but lurch into a brutal finish. Then you have your “single” with “Ascend” barely passing the four minute mark yet the scope is still just as massive with this instrumental number leaving a lasting impression going towards the inevitable end of Impermanence that is “Dust”. That “little” ditty triples the length of its’ predecessor with a fuzzy rumble to start courtesy of Stephen LoVerme as Andrew Muro’s subtle percussive tones easing listeners into the majesty of what’s to come. And what eventually comes captures the brilliance of SEA within one glorious track. It’s Walshak and Mike Blasi’s guitar work that excels in the art of the build, brimming with a sustained intensity one moment then going for the jugular the next. It’s Walshak and LoVerme delicately harmonizing before a throated growl explodes outward. It’s Muro’s slowburn performance behind the kit that seizes the senses and then bombastically reacts with thunderous aplomb. It’s just all of it. And you should get into it. Now.
Impermanence is out now and can be yours by clicking on the stream below or by clicking here. You can also grab a copy at the record release show happening on February 7th at ONCE with Worshipper, Glacier, and Seed as support. For deets and tickets to that killer show, head here. For all the rest of your SEA needs, follow them on the interwebs by clicking here and here.