Sea Of Green - Chemical Vacation
2003 - The Music Cartel
By Philip Whitehouse
Go to the Sea Of Green website.
It's always nice to be able to say that I haven't heard an album quite like the one I happen to be reviewing before. Sea Of Green specialise in a psychedelic, melodic form of metal/hard rock that takes in influences from areas as diverse as stoner rock (in particular Queens Of The Stone Age and Monster Magnet) and 90s era, heavier grunge (particularly Alice In Chains and Soundgarden).
This leads to an intriguing release that can proudly say that each song stands up individually yet also works as part of a cohesive whole - every composition has it's own feel, like the Soundgarden-meets-Tool sweeping melancholia of 'Out Of My Head', or the acoustic, flamenco-tinged but still somehow appropriate and fitting sound of 'Unite'.
The album positively drips with the vibe of an ambitious band who intend to go a lot further than playing to dope-addled Southerners in smoky bars (although seeing as the band are Canadian, this could be seen as a success for them). The clear, mainstream friendly production, pleasingly catchy hooks and the sweeping dynamics of the songs on offer all hint towards a band aiming for radio airplay and commercial success - and if that puts you off listening to them, then quite frankly, it's your loss.
Sea Of Green provide an excellent album of chemically-tinted hard rock tunes that display an admirable diversity, a solid grip of composition and a knack for writing hard-hitting and memorable songs. Maybe they're not quite underground enough for everyone, but I doubt that'll bother the band when they hit the big-time - which I personally am confident that they will.
8.5/10
2003 - The Music Cartel
By Philip Whitehouse
Go to the Sea Of Green website.
It's always nice to be able to say that I haven't heard an album quite like the one I happen to be reviewing before. Sea Of Green specialise in a psychedelic, melodic form of metal/hard rock that takes in influences from areas as diverse as stoner rock (in particular Queens Of The Stone Age and Monster Magnet) and 90s era, heavier grunge (particularly Alice In Chains and Soundgarden).
This leads to an intriguing release that can proudly say that each song stands up individually yet also works as part of a cohesive whole - every composition has it's own feel, like the Soundgarden-meets-Tool sweeping melancholia of 'Out Of My Head', or the acoustic, flamenco-tinged but still somehow appropriate and fitting sound of 'Unite'.
The album positively drips with the vibe of an ambitious band who intend to go a lot further than playing to dope-addled Southerners in smoky bars (although seeing as the band are Canadian, this could be seen as a success for them). The clear, mainstream friendly production, pleasingly catchy hooks and the sweeping dynamics of the songs on offer all hint towards a band aiming for radio airplay and commercial success - and if that puts you off listening to them, then quite frankly, it's your loss.
Sea Of Green provide an excellent album of chemically-tinted hard rock tunes that display an admirable diversity, a solid grip of composition and a knack for writing hard-hitting and memorable songs. Maybe they're not quite underground enough for everyone, but I doubt that'll bother the band when they hit the big-time - which I personally am confident that they will.
8.5/10
