Karma and Effect
Seether's follow-up to their promising, moderately successful 2002 debut,Disclaimer, and its spottier, hastily repackaged 2004sequel, was reportedly beset by fighting with their label--friction that dictated everything from profanity-free lyrics to a title change (the original name was the tellingCatering to Cowards.) Yet the band effectively rises above those constraints, if only by largely sticking toDisclaimer's tried-and-true formula of seasoning the generous blasts of angst-metal (such as the raging opener "Because of Me") that are its true stock in trade with more evocative ballads like "The Gift" and "Plastic Man." The latter tracks hearken back to "Broken," singer Shaun Morgan's duet with girlfriend and Evanescence singer Amy Lee, yet find their own restless, emotive substance without her.--Jerry McCulley