Seum - Parking Life

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Seum is a stoner/doom/sludge band from Canada, that hit the scene in 2020 with their debut EP “Summer of Seum.”  Their latest album, “Parking Life,” is their third full-length album; they have also released another EP, two splits, and two live albums.

I’m sorry to say that “Parking Life,” is my first experience with this band—I’ve been missing out and I don’t have a frame of reference to compare them to.  But that’s ok because I can tell they really can’t be compared to anyone else.  This is a band with their own sound and “Parking Life,” is a unique experience.  


They don’t have a guitarist–this trio is just vocals, bass, and drums.  They certainly aren’t the first band, doom or otherwise, to focus on bass only but I’m not sure if anyone has been as dynamic with that set up as what I’m hearing on “Parking Life.” 


Sludge/Doom is definitely the basis of their sound but there is a strong hardcore/punk and even pop aesthetic to the songs.  Hell in their own words from the press release they said, “...getting as far from our comfort zone as we could, adding clean vocals, melodies and treating each song of the album as a pop track.”


That isn't to say this is the Beach Boys if they did even more drugs, but what it translates into is an album where every song is short, to the point, and insanely catchy.  Seriously, this is a raw and abrasive album, but I’ll be damned if every song didn’t stick in my head.  


Oh, and it is FUN.  WHAT?!?!? “aRe YoU sErIoUs?”  Yes, I am.  This album is an energetic blast in the best way possible—and I can absolutely hear that the band had just as much fun recording this.  It is always a treat when musicians actually LIKE the music they play.  These guys love what they do, and it translates into an honest portrayal of how to kick ass through music. 


Earlier, I mentioned this is raw and abrasive music.  I don’t mean that as in “sounds like a black metal album that was recorded in a dead skunk’s asshole” but it has an awesome DIY atmosphere to it and nothing else would really work this album. 


The title track begins with a hammered thump of hammering bass and crashing drums—-then a searing scream that rips open the track.  The vocals slide from punk/hardcore rough cleans to more extreme screams and back again.  The entire time the bass and drums are racing to see who finishes first.  It’s chaotic yet there is a purpose to their methods.  One hell of an opening barn burner of a song.  


The ridiculously awesome titled song “666 Problems,” features Dopethrone’s Vince Houde as well.  I’m not overly familiar with his band outside of their latest album but it is obvious he and Seum are making beautifully destructive music together.  The vocals, in places, are just fucking EVIL and the grinding groove of the bass nearly had my brain in powder before the end.  After hearing this song, I understand why the album is only 26 minutes long:  who the hell could survive for longer?  Also, bonus points for a triptastic bass solo near the end.  It normally takes other bands three guitarists and a 20 lbs of weed to pull something like that off.  


One of the best grooves of the month blasts opens on “Right Swipe Blues.”  The drums are so goddamn perfect here too—name a better duo.  The clean vocals are hazy and a very nice touch, making the screams all the more potent when they do arrive.  From 1:56 all the way to the song’s end is a non-stop riff fest and one of the heaviest things I’ve heard all month.  If they play this song live, I hope there are EMTs nearby because the pit is going to open up into hell itself.  


The final song, “Always on My Mind,” is super dark, the deep cleans adding much to this ever-growing void. The bass and drums deliver a low-end experience that feels like the world is being sucked into that void as the music crushes the eardrums.  There are subtle hints of melody throughout the song, and these little details make it all the cleverer.  Near the end, the vocals get especially violent and the music, somehow, even louder.  


Then it ends.  Catch your breath?  Good because you’ll be beginning to hit the replay button for more punishment.  And that’s what Seum’s “Parking Life,” is: a beatdown that will leave a smile on your face.  Wipe the blood from your mouth and jump right back into the fray.


Rating:  Great














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