Seance - Perdition EP

​Seance

Perdition EP
self-released; 2016

3.7 out of 5

By Santiago Garcia

Seance is a band from Ohio that recorded and mixed a new album titled Perdition. Well, that is if you can call them a band. Seance, according to the group, is actually an aural attempt at communication with spirits and “the other side.” The group uses tones and chords in hopes of connecting and talking with the deceased. With that goal in mind, the group put together this album. 

The introduction of the album starts out with the song “Calla” and it is a heavy, in your face introduction. All the instruments come in together right from the first beat immersing the listener right in the middle of the band. It’s a cool introduction, and carefully executed sound where all the instruments come in together at once. It shows great chemistry and engages the listener right away. The drums are great, very metal-like marching sounds that moves the listener along through the song. The vocals are a bit dark and monotone, again metal-like, and don’t show much emotion; they are more like religious chanting. 

The thing about this album is that it’s very repetitive. The drums, chord progressions and the lyrics tend to repeat the same sound over and over. The verses in some of the songs are actually the same, so it’s almost like the verse is also the chorus. Some tracks do showcase some variety though. The song “Rise Up” for example has a much different introduction. It has a slower build up, an intense and climactic sound compared to the loud “boom” in the other track. The song keeps a much more calm and melodic sound, which is a nice changeup from lots of the other tracks. 

The different instruments do display their range and ability in some of the songs. The second track culminates to a cool bass solo, but it has an odd, musty sound. Occasionally, on about a third of the tracks, the album changes up from metal to electronic. I don’t know if we can call these ‘songs;’ they are more like transitions filled with unique sounds like children playing, the beach and other industrial-like sounds. These songs seem like they are building up to something, but they just keep on moving and never really climax. 

​The album overall is very repetitive, and not very melodic. The song “Salem” sounds very similar to the first track, and also uses the same method of repeating the same chord progressions, drum beats, and chanting over and over again. While there is some variety in that some of the tracks are transitions, this album is filled with tracks that sound like one another and the composition relies on repeating the same simple chords. It’s not the most melodic album, and perhaps that’s because the deceased do not respond well to that type of music.

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