There are sadly very few African success stories in the music scene. One of the very few bands to ever make it big internationally was South African Hard Rock band SARON GAS, who had to change their name following their relocation to America. Emerging as SEETHER, the band started on their ascent to success, with a slew of records which garnered international acclaim. This year sees them set to release "Poison the Parish", an album which shows that the band is far from done.

With a total run-time of just over an hour, "Poison the Parish" starts off with "Stoke the Fire" and from the first few notes it's immediately obvious that SEETHER have stayed true to their own distinctive sound. This perhaps becomes even clearer in "Betray and Degrade", interspersing clean and melodic parts with heavier sections that meld seamlessly into each other. This song is one of the most catchy on the album, getting incessantly stuck in my head. In contrast to this, "Something Else" has a slower and more melancholic feel to it, whilst "I'll Survive" has an almost SARON GAS atmosphere, and is again is one of the catchier songs on "Poison the Parish". And to give you a taste of what is to come, SEETHER released the video for "Let You Down", which is as dark and weird as we've come to expect from them. This complements the gentle, swaying tristess of "Against the Wall". And before you know it, more vocal hooks on "Let Me Heal" sink into your senses, really letting Shaun's voice take wing. But just as the album is starting to feel a little too slow and sappy, "Saviours" kicks in and sees the album return to the faster and more up-beat lashing-out style of SEETHER's, which is carried over to "Nothing Left". My personal favourite is "Count Me Out", which has a varied sound, and is perhaps as close to their older style as it gets on "Poison the Parish". Taking the penultimate spot is "Emotionless", with an almost sleazy, mellow melody which ebbs and flows insidiously. Closing off the album we have "Sell My Soul", which contains some of the best guitarwork on the album, with an acoustic guitar adding flare and a counterweight to the distorted electric guitar, and ending the album with a resigned air.

Overall, this album is quintessentially SEETHER through and through, combining catchy vocal hooks which flow through heavier and cleaner sections alike. The songwriting is simplistic, with a similar formula used for the majority of the songs on "Poison the Parish". However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing; SEETHER's songwriting style is one of the reasons why they have such a distinctive sound. One thing that does stand out compared to their earlier albums is that much of their anger that seemed to have fueled these albums has abated. But for that, many of their rough edges have also been smoothed over the years, leading to a more polished sound. Having said that, there is also a timeless quality to SEETHER's music: their sound is just as fresh and relevant as it was all those years ago. The production is clear, but perhaps not as sharp as it could have been, and as a result, some of the songs don't carry quite as much impact as they might have. But other than that, "Poison the Parish" is about as SEETHER-y as it gets; fans definitely won't be disappointed.