ALBUM REVIEW: Nozomi – Seething Akira
It’s no secret that nu-metal has been making a growing comeback over the years, and the execution has been astounding. It’s evident that with our advanced technology and access to an entire database of sounds at our fingertips these days we can take all the rough and unpolished greatness of the early 2000s and give it that extra sparkle. It’s an exciting time for the genre and Nozomi – the latest effort from Portsmouth-based nu-metallers SEETHING AKIRA – speaks volumes with an arrangement of sounds that bring both nostalgia and excitement.
The album’s opener Never Permanent brings out vintage keyboards with a synth line that reminds you of VAN HALEN’s Jump; it’s 80s without being too 80s, and the repetitive mantra of ‘‘Nothings permanent / This feeling’s never permanent’’ is a solid reminder that no matter what inner demons we find ourselves up against, they will fade in time. Metaphors however turns a whole 180 by starting off with a synth that vaguely feels Stranger Things-esque before coming in with some vocal effects that you would find scattered across modern pop music, although with the distorted guitars in the background it remains heavy enough to keep you drawn in while still giving that feel-good summer vibe during the chorus. It’s clear why this was chosen as one of the singles; it has all these exciting soundscapes that are littered across this album whilst keeping distinct catchy synths, groovy breakdowns and hard-hitting riffs that will be stuck in your head hours after listening.
Lost At Sea brings us back to the surface level for a moment to remind us of the all important message that for every wilted rose another springs to life – an uplifting track for the lost and hopeless. It feels like therapy and before the song ends you’ve worked through your struggle, ready to take on the world one step at a time. The guitar solo in particular on this track paints beautiful moments of life and builds optimism in the back of our minds for those darker days that resurface once in a while.
For those of you who have come to the album seeking something heavier that makes you want to throw fists across your bedroom like a tornado then you’re in luck as Internal Agonist delivers an ominous atmosphere with heavy guitars and a breakdown that goes full THE PRODIGY mode. Meanwhile, Punishment Instructions pushes into chaotic territory for what’s undoubtedly going to be a wild one live; you can imagine crowd surfers, everyone jumping around, and mosh pits galore the moment you hear the words ‘’Raise your fingers up’’.
As the album draws to a tight finish, Reason To Breathe is more rap than the previous track but it is still a very honest track taking a deep journey; it’s intimate and raw, but it amps up towards the end to really engrave the importance of this track and the message behind it. Closing the record with Stars as the victory against the conflict of your inner demons, it fills you with undeniable hope that beauty still exists in this world and for every bad day a good one will arise, that sometimes all we have to do in this world is stop and take a look around.
What SEETHING AKIRA have created with this album is an honest reflection of hope, a deeper look into their struggles, and a reminder that we are not alone. This album sonically bridges the gap between pop fanatics, 80s nostalgics and metal lovers around the table with something for everyone to sink their teeth into.
Rating: 8/10
Nozomi is out now via FiXT.
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