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Seas of Conflict - Single Review: Prometheus/Eventide

28 Aug 2019 // A review by Kris Raven

For anyone familiar with Seas of Conflict’s live shows, you will know that throughout the last year Prometheus has been the song that has been leaving fans in awe, pummelled by its sheer brutality. It is one of their heaviest songs to date and a crowd favourite with many people eagerly waiting for the song to be recorded. Well that day has come! This song along with the already released Eventide is meant to be listened to (as well as visually enjoyed) as a double banger. So, let’s start.

Part one: Prometheus
From the get-go, this song is relentless, heavy, aggressive, passionately violent and made for some throw downs. Lead vocalist Kody Naidoo’s recent addition of clean vocals will not be found here (actually, it will later on), this is the grown-up brother of Vestige that has come to rain down darkness. Drummer Nic Martin's complex drum patterns while maintaining the seas of groove, feature a noticeable amount of double kick, intricately precise rhythmic complexities in tight unison with guitarist Declan Storrie and bassist Alex Motts rhythmical machine of low end riffage.

Breaking the song down into pieces, there are a series of stages to this juggernaut (I’m gonna go with four).

Stage 1: Is just straight heavy as hell, Kody’s guttural vocals with backing shrieks of terror set against a soundscape wall of relentless double kicks, tom tom patterns and mathematical equations of guitar (I am feeling some nu-metalcore inspired riffage), a lot of bounce and almost middle eastern sounding lead guitars, layering and carrying flourishes of melody throughout.

Stage 2: - Further relentless, double kicks carrying pace and then lush breakdowns, all the guitars, bass and drums locked in so tightly. The first of the heavy as hell breaks has occurred and the vocals continue punching you straight in the ear throat.

Stage 3:  The spoken word- a personal favourite for me in metal songs (ABR do it well) with a tasteful guitar solo piece by Storrie with a small inclusion of cleans to break up the beast. Then the galloping rhythm of the guitar and kicks with the lead playing over the top, it's been carrying the story throughout. This part of the song is a massive highlight!

Stage 4: More breakdowns will be found here, low low lows and then a fade out into the interlude. Brutal!

Part Two: Eventide
This was a big departure from their previous releases I found, while Monachopsis introduced clean vocals and some more ambient moments, ET introduced a clean sung chorus and a little more “definitive” structure. The song isn’t a straight-forward song, but is more refined and easier to follow on first time listen compared to previous more progressive efforts. This song is noted to be the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and drummer Nic Martin, who wrote and featured on much of the song.

With the gap between the two songs joined by a hooky little electro piece of ambient noise, Eventide begins with the instrumental chorus, melodic and discordant, a little familiar but with a lot of feels. While the verses carry a head bopping bounce and a swing between the space, Naidoo's vocals are heavy and clear, his screams are commanding and carry a more harmonious scream. The sung chorus is driving and hooky, punchy and uplifting and I like the addition of the half time break down on the 4th bars, creating a groovy core vibe. The 2nd verse adds further intensity, the vocals elevate with ferocity. When we arrive at the breakdown, Naidoo's vocal skills are further pushed mixing the clean and scream, emotional and natural. Musically the bridge/outro piece reminds me a little of UK Prog metal legends Tesseract, while heavy, the chord structures and rhythmic pulse carry a lot of melody and groove throughout.

This is an eleven minute event and its epic! The new era of Seas of Conflict is here and they continue to rise, performing throughout NZ with international heavy weights and featuring on local and national tours and bills, be sure to catch them supporting Aussie legends Northlane in October.
Rating: ( 5 / 5 )
 

About Seas of Conflict

Seas Of Conflict is a Heavy Metal band from Hamilton, which consists of five members who all share the same dream, which is to have their music reach as many people as it possibly can. Seas Of Conflict are five hard working teenagers who love to write, record, and perform their own original music.

Since late 2011 Seas Of Conflict have been playing as many shows and participating in as many things as possible that will help benefit the bands future. In the short time Seas Of Conflict have been together they have had the privilege to perform with some of their all time favourite bands such as Deez Nuts, Thy Art Is Murder, Northlane, In Hearts Wake, Prepared Like A Bride, Sienna Skies, A Breach Of Silence, Saving Grace, plus many more.

Seas Of Conflict recorded their EP Bleak Humanity in their friends flat just so they were able to get some of their material out to the public. Since the release of their EP they have had air time on various radio stations around New Zealand, and they have also been aired over in Brazil. Seas Of Conflict bring an extremely energetic and aggressive live performance not to be missed. Keep an eye out for upcoming shows and release dates. You will be seeing and hearing plenty more from Seas Of Conflict.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Seas of Conflict

Releases

Vestige
Year: 2017
Type: EP
Bleak Humanity
Year: 2013
Type: EP

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