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Sed Non Satiata

Mappō

Written by: PP on 03/01/2014 00:01:20

A few years ago I stumbled on the self-titled debut album by Toulouse, France's Sed Non Satiata, another original screamo / skramz band walking essentially int he footsteps of Saetia, Funeral Diner, and other seminal but oft-forgotten bands that pioneered screamo during the 90s. It was a decent effort, albeit one that didn't leave as much of an impression as more prominent bands in the genre. Sophomore album "Mappō" seeks to change, and in some ways succeeds in its mission.

What's changed since the self-titled album, then? For starters, the band have become more pronounced in their songwriting. The buildups are now slower and more extensive, covering much more richly textured soundscape than they did in the past, clearly taking more and more cues from Japanese scene leaders envy. There's less of a powerviolence / chaotic stance this time around, as more time is spent on actually building the songs, utilizing clean vocals for the quiet/loud dynamic, and that sort of thing. This is good, because it allows many songs room to breathe and to expand in the overall soundscape. Ambiance is used extensively together with quiet, almost relaxed guitars. "Sehnsucht" is one such example, but also "Nemesis" later on the record proves to be a highlight. On both tracks we hear some clean vocals, but also the torn, coarse screaming that is the trademark of the original screamo genre, a style so raw and passionate that you can't help but roll your eyes over the Rise Records-core bands and their glossy production.

It's not that "Mappō" has a bad production, though, it has merely been left more raw to allow for the vocal delivery to come across as desperation-driven as it does during the coarse vocals. At the same time, the cleans are smooth, and work well when contrasted against the throat-destroying screams in passages that follow.

In general, the album has a progressive vibe, much more so than most other bands exploring the revivalist screamo style. It means some of the intensity you're used to hearing from bands like Gillian Carter, Dominic, and Xerxes is missing, but it's nonetheless refreshing to hear a more somber take on the genre.

Download: Sehnsucht, Nemesis
For the fans of: Saetia, envy, Kaospilot
Listen: Facebook

Release date 01.06.2013
Self-Released