See (It) Through

The Sammus Theory

Mia Mind Music, 2007

http://thesammustheory.net/

REVIEW BY: Ben McVicker

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/03/2007

In an age where rock music has become so processed and formulaic that Nickelback can release as homogenous a pair of singles as “How You Remind Me” and “Someday” to mass fanfare, it’s rare that a band emerges with a sound and energy that holds listeners’ attention for a full 60 minutes. Luckily, The Sammus Theory is such a group, and their second studio album See (It) Through is a breath of fresh air.

Beginning with the opener “Counterfeit,” it is apparent that The Sammus Theory are a cut above the legions of mediocre sound-alike bands currently besieging the airwaves. The song is carried by a tight, chugging rhythm section, with some tasteful guitar work. Sammus proves to be an incredibly versatile frontman, delivering a vocal performance that ranges from angry, growling screams to a melodic chorus. The mix and production are especially striking; it’s a treat to hear a rock disc that has such a loud, crunchy sound going for it.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

After an energetic, captivating opener, The Sammus Theory continue to fire on all cylinders for a full hour. “Something Special” has all the earmarks of a great rock song: a hard-hitting tune that is at once angry and aggressive in its riffing and lyrics but manages to explore a radio-friendly sound in the choruses. “56 Blank” opens with a contorted riff straight out of Dream Theater, then fades into quiet verses. It’s nice to hear a dual-guitar band mixed so well for a change, with minimalist, 10-note phrases atop the rhythm playing in spots.

An eerie cover of Gary Numan’s “Pure” is perhaps the most forgettable moment on See (It) Through. It lacks the melody of earlier songs and tries to affect an attitude of sorts with its screaming chorus of ‘Hey / Bitch / This is what you are!’ The whole song feels rather out of place on an album of otherwise solid original material.

Thankfully, the title track is a return to form. A clean, melodic rocker with an intricate climax featuring some spacey, atmospheric guitar lines. “Inside Out” is another winner, a loud hard rock number with some great vocals. The guitar during the quieter sections is at times reminiscent of The Edge but with a warm, organic tone better suited to rock and roll. “Please Bleed” is another high-energy track, powered by blistering drums, chunky bass playing and soaring vocals.

A trio of solid tunes -- “Inject,” “Hearsay,” and “Weak” -- follow, but around this point things begin to sound a bit similar. While most of the songs on See (It) Through kick ass, these ones are merely average. Things end on a high note, however, as the band throws a curveball and delivers a somber instrumental, “Black Out,” which makes for a nice change of pace. The closer, “Parasite,” follows suit; a quiet, downbeat tune with some haunting keys in the mix, The Sammus Theory tone down the energy and aggression, winding the album down in an artful fashion.

A pummeling dose of hard rock with a healthy appreciation for melody and vocal hooks, See (It) Through is a refreshing listen, sure to  satisfy any rock aficionados burnt out on the current state of radio.

Rating: A-

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© 2007 Ben McVicker and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Mia Mind Music, and is used for informational purposes only.