Reviewed by Kit Burns
The Seeded Planet/Smoking Mirror
The Seeded Planet are among the few new alternative bands that rock with a sense of purpose. Fronted by Iraq War veteran Sans, the Seeded Planet arrive with the heavy artillery immediately on “Nameless,” which has enough crackling, head-banging electric riffs to challenge Metallica in an arm-wrestling match. However, the noise doesn’t originate from pointless, empty machismo. You get the impression that vocalist/guitarist Sans is unveiling the real-life experiences he had in the desert through music. Sonically, the influences are fed by Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins, and the other participants of the early ’90s alt-rock revolution; spiritually, the roots are a million miles away in battle-torn terrain.
The ominous tones of “Mexico” create a feeling of dread; the feedback-drenched guitars crawl like reptiles underneath the dirt. What excited the most on this three-track EP was the final cut, “Whispering.” It’s the most ambitious tune on here, blending electronics and acoustic guitars with Middle Eastern singing that could only have come from Sans’ time in Iraq.
