Just 3 years after their “Poison the Parish” record, Seether is releasing “Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum,” and it slaps HARD. Translated to “If you want peace, prepare for war,” this album hits with an intensity that’s fitting for war. The alternative/grunge band surprised me with a metal evolution to their sound.
“Dead and Done” opens the album hard. I love the opening with mic feedback and heavy strings. It’s the perfect song to get over a breakup to. The verses sing of toxic traits, while the chorus is empowering with its screaming lyrics of “You’re fucking dead. Ain’t nobody owning me. You’re fucking dead, just don’t have the energy.”
“Bruised and Bloodied” has the same DGAF attitude “Dead and Done” does. It’s one of those songs calling out others’ crap and taking action, falling into the message of the album title. “I’m not asking to pray about, parade about, save somebody. Lost the courage I’m craving now, I’m way too proud. I’m bruised and bloodied.” I love the heavy bass in this song along with those lyrics of just being done.
“Wasteland” is probably my favorite song off this album. It has the flavor of classic Seether and is more melodic than the rest of the album. This song has a vulnerability to it, that I felt deep with the lyrics. “At the end of the day, you’re so soft-spoken. Don’t hang your head for me. Nobody seems to believe in the reasons you feel so lonely. Nobody seems to accept them the way I do. This teenage wasteland of ours, I feel too much. I remember the way you left me broken. Don’t shed a tear for me.” Where this song sits in the album, it has a natural progression to losing someone from the first song, feeling all that anger, then accepting it and dealing with the hurt of that loss.
You may or may not be disappointed to learn that “Let it Go” isn’t about a Norwegian ice queen accepting herself. But, regardless of your feelings towards Elsa, this song won’t disappoint. The rhythm guitar stood out to me in this song, with a continuous pulse to the song, The melodic sway of the chorus makes the lyrics hit deeper. “Slow down that river of blood you made when you stabbed my back, but I am drowning in the quicksand. I don’t feel like getting over, I just feel like getting numb. I don’t see why I should bother, I just don’t think I could let it go.”
Vocalist, Shaun Morgan, says of this album, ”I’m exposing myself to a degree I’m not normally comfortable with, but I think it’s ok. I’m proud to be a little bit more vulnerable on this album.” With that extra heart and vulnerability put into this album, I think they really knocked it out of the park. I got so many emotions from this album, and have felt every bit of anguish, betrayal, anger, and hurt that the words held.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum is available on all streaming and downloading platforms on August 28. You can pre-save the album now, pre-order it in bundles on their band site, and listen to “Dangerous” now.
Track list
- Dead and Done
- Bruised and Bloodied
- Wasteland
- Dangerous
- Liar
- Can’t Go Wrong
- Buried In the Sand
- Let It Go
- Failure
- Beg
- Drift Away
- Pride Before the Fall
- Written In Stone
