FreakSeed.com - CD Reviews

Ignition

WRETCHED PRODUCTIONS: Wow, "Ignition" fuckin' rips! "Ribcage" is truly a damn masterpiece in songwriting. ~Wayne Klinger

CANADIAN ASSAULT ISSUE #4: This is not a bad release at all. Freak Seed remind me most of Overkill and I'm sure the band would not deny the influence. Every song is on it's own and they all tend to mix well together to create a good heavy metal album. No bells and whistles besides a little acoustic guitar every now and then. These riffs and vocals far outshine anything on the last 3 Overkill albums. Not bad at all. ~Jeffrey Kusbel

WORM GEAR ZINE #7: Freak Seed? Yeah, I know the name suggests wackiness, but I'll be damned if this isn't some listenable, mid-eighties influenced power metal. Bands such as Overkill and middle of the road Testament come to mind as this crunch-fest of power chords get the old cobwebs cleaned out of the clock. The track "Ribcage" surprises when it takes on a ballad characteristic with tuneful singing and dark harmonies that are full of memorable qualities. From the soft, back into the dense groove where more of a rasp enters guitarist Dave Couillou's smooth vocal style, "Ignition" is full of movement and solidly written punch. Catchy power if you find yourself spinning the black and death metal religiously, I really don't see that Freak Seed would be a very smart purchase. I think those who have been into all facets of metal since the early eighties might be able to appreciate this a little more understandingly. ~ Marty

I.H.Y.M.F. ISSUE #6: Freak Seed "Ignition" (*****). Another great band that has the 80's thrash style to them. The music has that Bay Area thing going on; certain parts remind me of Exodus and Death Angel. And how refreshing it is to hear a vocalist that doesn't try to imitate a bullfrog or the cookie monster! This dude actually sings; his vocals kind of reminds me of when John Bush used to sing in Armored Saint, before he joined the lame excuse of a band called Anthrax. Excellent band indeed! I would love to hear more from these guys in the future.

Grout

DEMO UNIVERSE: Belying their name, Freak Seed does not play death-metal, funk-metal, alt-metal or any other post-modern mutant. This is just good, old-fashioned heavy metal, and damn well done. Conservative but not cliched, with no screaming, no shredding, and with the exception of the epic "Skull Machine," no song over four minutes. There must be a market for this and I hope Freak Seed finds it.

SCREAMS FROM THE GUTTER #44: The glossy-covered embryonic alien/creature in the womb takes care of the visual representation, though "grout" is an odd name for this, but all in all it's the melodic groove this Jersey (Morristown to be exact, 'bout an hour away from me) trio is spewing is what we're interested in. A bass-heavy mid-pace is the nominal modus operandi with higher-pitched rough vocals in the foreground to further anti-categorize the music, which also sports a melodic edge within the heavy intentions and is exemplified in much of this four-tracker. A superb production brings this out like heat on a blackhead. Although not the most exciting or rebellious stuff on the market, especially the very commercial chorus of "Drill" which has a cringing effect on yours truly, it should stand up to what's on popularity's list today.

METAL-CORE #23: More groove metal with some of the best vocals I have heard this issue. The guy has totally his own style and just smokes on this tape. Only 4 tunes here & that is just perfect unlike the above band who had 8 tunes & that is just a bit too much. The band have a bit of hardcore in them (Pro Pain) along with their own little wacky guitar riffing style. The riffs are very original & seem to be well thought out. Death metal fans will find nothing of value but if you like heavy music with originality & great tunes then get this.