The album starts off with a stormer, Stephen’s in the Sky with the most baffling use of minimalist lyrics. You could say that there are religious overtones but that would be too quick a judgement just because it contains the line ‘some god with finish there’. Whatever it means, it’s a dark, driving tune that goes with it. Of all the tracks on the album, among the best is No Happy, which sounds like the White Stripes doing Placebo. It’s got a great hook that sounds a little like that off of Day by Day.

There are varied sounds; it’s not all dark, intense songs. Some are happier, more hopeful tunes such as ‘Ordinarily Me’ despite the seemingly bitter subject. Again, it sounds like Placebo, specifically Ask For Answers, at some points. At other times there are overtones of Radiohead in the melody in tracks like ‘Green Disaster Twice’ and ‘Who Could I Be?’ but without the melancholy of Radiohead.

There are quite a few influences on this album or, at least, that’s what it sounds like. Echoes of Nirvana can be heard in tracks like ‘Build High, Tear Low’ where they may not sound the same but following the same sort of structure of chaotic choruses tempered with quiet verses. It’s worked to good effect and whilst there may be many influences on this album, Serafin have managed to create an album with a distinct identity. If you like any of the other bands referred to then you’ll like this album.


Natasha Perry