Seether and the glimmering trending apocalyptic addiction of "Wasteland" (Official Video)

 

"This teenage wasteland of ours / I feel too much / This drug won't take on for hours..."

In the Official Video for Seether's post grunge commentary "Wasteland", the apocalyptic landscape is not a ravaged city, although you get that sense from the barren topography outside Joshua Tree (California), but an emotional ravaging of the false pretense and psychological emptiness inherent in all our lives existing on social media. Our cell phones seem to act as surface make up intended as a prettier version of ourselves. In the vide against the heavy guitar downbeats, imploding drums and Shaun Morgan's evocative vocals, the oppression and loss of oneself manifests as a monstrous otherworldly wall of dark cell phones and snaking cables. The filmic video, as directed by Genéa Gaudet and featuring snake wrangler and conservationist Danielle Wall, along with The National frontman Matt Berninger's brother Tom Berninger, is beautifully shot and brings social media point home especially when a young girl cries out. While the 'selfie' phenomenon has been around since the 80's, stemming from Japanese 'Kawaii' culture, it hasn't been so systemic in infesting every aspect of modern culture at every level and age since around 2005. The question arises whether social scientists of the future will look back at all this as the beginning of the fall. Yes, maybe I am being overly dramatic but it is not beyond the pale to define smart phones and social media as an addiction and most of the time addictions have dire consequences.  

Of the video, lead singer Shaun Morgan explains: “We were trying to figure out how to make some kind of statement about the evils of social media and it evolved from one idea to the video it is now. After spending such a long period of time without any kind of personal contact with the other band members, the live performance element was especially important to us – it was good for us mentally and emotionally, but it was also important to visually show that we’ve come out the other side after such a difficult time.”

The "Wasteland" is sort of a prelude to the band's career-spanning album "Vicennial" – 2 Decades of Seether of which there is a lot to unravel (via press notes):

[Seether’s upcoming album, Vicennial – 2 Decades of Seether, tells the remarkable story of the South African quartet’s career and chart-topping success. The 20 songs on this compilation have amassed 16 #1 chart positions and all are Top 5 multi-format radio hits. This collection is an audio summary of the first 20 years of Billboard’s #8 All-Time Mainstream Rock Artists, which covers the 40-year history of the chart’s existence. The album, due for release on October 15th via Craft Recordings, was carefully curated by frontman Shaun Morgan and highlights tracks from his band’s eight full-length albums — including early breakthrough singles “Broken” and “Fine Again”; the recent #1 on both the Rock and Active Rock charts, “Dangerous”; as well as their fan favorite cover of Wham’s “Careless Whisper.” Known for their dedication to their fans, Seether selected fan submitted artwork for the album cover. Pre-orders for Vicennial – 2 Decades of Seether begin today, including a Seether.com -exclusive 1,000-unit limited-edition custom mixed opaque purple 2-LP vinyl. Pre-order/pre-save here.]

-Robb Donker Curtius

* * *

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:


https://www.seether.com/

https://www.instagram.com/seether/

https://twitter.com/SeetherOfficial

https://www.facebook.com/seether

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6B5c4sch27tWHAGdarpPaW



Aug 13, 2021 — Seether’s upcoming album, Vicennial – 2 Decades of Seether, tells the remarkable story of the South African quartet’s career and chart-topping success. The 20 songs on this compilation have amassed 16 #1 chart positions and all are Top 5 multi-format radio hits. This collection is an audio summary of the first 20 years of Billboard’s #8 All-Time Mainstream Rock Artists, which covers the 40-year history of the chart’s existence. The album, due for release on October 15th via Craft Recordings, was carefully curated by frontman Shaun Morgan and highlights tracks from his band’s eight full-length albums — including early breakthrough singles “Broken” and “Fine Again”; the recent #1 on both the Rock and Active Rock charts, “Dangerous”; as well as their fan favorite cover of Wham’s “Careless Whisper.” Known for their dedication to their fans, Seether selected fan submitted artwork for the album cover. Pre-orders for Vicennial – 2 Decades of Seether begin today, including a Seether.com -exclusive 1,000-unit limited-edition custom mixed opaque purple 2-LP vinyl. Pre-order/pre-save here.

On October 7th, to celebrate the album’s release, the band will perform all 20 tracks in sequence live one time only at Ace of Spades in Sacramento, CA. This event is an Aftershock After Party for the opening night of the sold-out Aftershock Festival, where the band will be appearing on October 8th with Metallica, Rancid and others. Tickets for Vicennial – Live are on sale now at Seether.com.

Since Seether aren’t able to tour outside of the US right now, they wanted to find another way to bring this special show to their fans around the world. On November 11th, the band is hosting a special Vicennial – Live Online event through a partnership with the premium digital live platform Moment House. There will be shows at 6pm PST, 6pm GMT and 6pm JST where fans are able to vote for that time zone’s 10-song set. Additionally, the band will be appearing live for Q&A sessions and virtual meet and greets. Tickets for Vicennial – Live Online, as well as bundles that include merch and an exclusive 500 unit limited edition custom mixed opaque pink color 2-LP vinyl of Vicennial, are on sale now at Seether.com.

Reflecting on the band’s career, singer Shaun Morgan says, “Twenty years is a major milestone for us; we’ve been on an amazing ride - alongside our fans - and we plan to continue that journey. Putting Vicennial together gave us a chance to look back on our body of work over the years, and to rediscover some of our older songs during the pandemic that brought us all to a standstill. We hope that everyone enjoys the compilation as much as we do now, after this historic lockdown, and we look forward to seeing our fans again at live shows in the future.”

Seether, post grunge, alternative rock, "Wasteland", Official Video, apocalyptic, "Vicennial" – 2 Decades of Seether, South African, singer songwriter, Shaun Morgan, Japanese 'Kawaii' culture,