MP3: Seance - Wasted

Seance is back from the dead after 15 some years and it's almost like they never left. They've still got one of the heaviest rhythm sections in death metal, even without the same brutal monster-truck basstone that characterized 1993's landmark "Saltrubbed eyes". It's all about those little stops and starts and the ridiculous triplet fills that drummer Micke Pettersson employs in his ongoing mission to out-Slayer Dave Lombardo. Seriously, no other band does it better; certainly none of the young upstarts who seem to value technical guitar prowess above all. As always the best death metal is about quality, memorable riffs. Often that means simple and effective; the number of notes is irrelevant. Anyhow, I wasn't expecting much from this reunion record, but these dudes delivered far beyond all expectations. Sure, the new album "Awakening of the Gods" has a few weaker moments here and there (there's one Prong-like groaner, for instance), but "Wasted" is 1000% killer. Seance's jagged rhythms, those super-gruff vokills -- all great. Even when they go into cheesy acoustic breakdown before the solo section, they make it work. No need to push boundaries or over-intellectualize it, stick to the classic formula and do it right -- that's all there is to it. No bullshit, just pure death fucking metal.

Seance - Wasted