Our exploration of Canada's contribution to nineties hardcore and metal continues with a fairly unique split LP between Seized and Ire. For most of its life on my turn table, I had only listened to the Seized side-- their sound being unlike anything else I was listening to at the time, yet the tracks were powerful and engaging. Perhaps I was seduced by each track's serene opening, each following an idyllic trail that slowly darkens into a forest of mysterious and sinister goings-on. To say that the tracks are bass-driven is a redundancy after we see in the notes that there are three bass players and no guitarist in the lineup. Seized also employed a violinist who knows her limitations and adds great ambiance, and a vocalist who might have listened to some Cathedral records at some point. If all of this sounds strange, it's because it is; but not in a bad way. Seized is a case where oddness enhances greatness. These would be the last tracks the band would record (and the best), but they also left behind two split 7"s and I believe a 7".
My avoidance of Ire would end with time and the inevitable opening-up of my musical tastes. I still have reservations over the "PC" spoken word portion at the end of "She," (not over its validity, but over its necessity/delivery) but now I just dismiss it as a product of the zeitgeist. At this point, the backbone of Ire's metal was ossified of the same stuff as Rorschach, but tending in the more "sentimental" direction (read: "EMOtive") of bands like Groundwork or Grievance. As the band worked out its ideas, it's easy to see that these guys were endowed with considerable skill and conviction which would continue...
... on their follow-up 7" also posted below. These three tracks see the band giving into their aggressive tendencies and abandoning some of the dissonant flourishes present in past tracks. As is perhaps predictable with musicians like these, the band would experiment a little more with their style on their ensuing two LPs, which I hope to post later this week.
Seized/Ire Split LP (Spineless/Fetus Records)
Ire 7" (Schema Records)
5 comments:
Oh hey, AWESOME. I booked Seized on their American tour after this split LP came out, and although they only had two of the three bass players with them, they were still incredible. They did a great cover of "Hand Of Doom" by Black Sabbath, too. And I love Ire! I am really looking forward to the posts of the LPs later on--the one I have (I Discern An Overtone Of Tragedy In Your Voice) is brilliant, and I've always wanted to hear the other one.
Right on! After listening to this record for years, I imagine 2 bass players would be plenty! And...I'll put up those Ire rips in order, so look for "What seed, What Root?" by the end of the week at the latest. Thanks!
pure rage...
you rat
i'll post "I Discern An Overtone Of Tragedy In Your Voice... " so this to be an IRE week. tjhey deserve it...
hiw are you???by the way
All right, it's a deal! I'll get the 2nd LP up today or tomorrow.
I'm doing pretty well. I take it you've been busy? Hopefully busy in a good way(?). Take care, and I'm looking forward to your Ire post!
I liked Seized but didn't feel like the 3 basses were necessary. They mostly just played the same thing as opposed to interesting counterpoints or variations. Kinda like Page 99 and their 5 guitars. Still, a very cool band and a nice precursor to bands that took the multi-bass sludge thing to more interesting levels like Wormwood or even Tusks of Blood.
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