Crashing drums, lumbering riffs and haunting vocals from frontman Bronson Lee Norton tick all the essential boxes for a perfect doom metal album. “Vol.6” is an intense thunderstorm of rhythm and vocals by up-and-coming group Seer, playing heavily to their strengths from previous albums.
At just under 40 minutes, the listener may feel cheated out of their experience. The first and last songs, “Oath of Exile” and “Prior Forms” serve more as ambient intro and outro tracks rather than full-length songs. Even listening now, the album’s abrupt ending leaves me wishing for more.
Formed in 2014, Seer has quietly and consistently released impressive records, or EPs, one after another.
Seer focuses their lyrics on fantasy and the occult, and isn’t afraid to experiment with ambient intros, paired with an undistorted guitar. “Frost Tulpa,” the album’s longest track, explores a spacey, melancholic riff before descending into the band’s rumbling style. The band even incorporates piano on several tracks, breaking the pounding rhythm of drums and guitar and bringing contrast to the chaos.
The album’s second track, “Iron Worth Striking,” gives Norton an opportunity to show off his impressive vocal range, switching from high, powerful singing, reminiscent of singers like Mercyful Fate’s King Diamond and Elder’s Nick DiSalvo, to a low growl akin to Cannibal Corpse’s George Fisher with the ease of an expert.
Riffs like “As the Light Fades” kick up the tempo, hitting a high energy just when the album begins to slow down, proving that Seer refuses to let their music drift into any one stereotype for too long.
This transition from haunting acoustic to chaotic distortion reminds the listener of black and viking metal pioneers Bathory, paying homage to doom metal’s roots.
“Vol. 6” is a refreshing reminder that, while doom is not the face of popular metal today, there are still bands releasing quality records. You just have to drive to Vancouver to see them.
