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The Unseen

Explode (2003)
BYO Records

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Contributed by: Moldy
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 6th 2003

Listening to the Unseen one could easily think that they were listening to any number of old school punk bands like the Exploited or GBH. It would be easy for me to dismiss them as just another copy cat band feeding off the music of others to line their own pockets, but that was before I listened to the entire album. This album is great it captures the anger and spirit of rebellion that was once prominent in punk. These guys have a fire that comes though their speeding guitar hooks and raw raspy vocals that contain so much hatred and anger in each word.

Songs like Your Failure Is My Revenge which confronts those who try to control others and have never lived in the real world, and Negative Outlook are destined to become pit anthems soon. The rest of the songs just scream hurt, anger, and a desire to make the world around them a better place.

I didn’t like the amount of production on this album. I felt that it was too much, especially for this type of music, it gets in the way and tones the songs down some. I think that there are a couple of songs in which a lower production factor would help make them sound even harder, and thus better. Aside from production issues I think this is a great slab of punk especially for those of you who like their music fast and loud.

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Anonymous (December 11, 2006)

god who cares whether someone who likes sum 41 has unseen patches or has heard of them dont be such elitist snobs

JohnnyTwoTits (August 30, 2006)

this fucking albun is just as punk as any other,and evreybody knows that if the mtv kids have thair sticker the mtv kids have no fucking clue what it means, they just like stickers, like it doesent even matter whats on it.. it could say "im a big fuckbag, kick the shit outta me" and theyll love it. the unseen has absoluteley nothing to do with mtv, because mtv will have nothing to do with the unseen. eather way, its good shit...

Anonymous (November 19, 2005)

how the fuck can u give this cd 3 stars...not many bands keep pumpin punk like them...one of the few good ones left...fuck...open your eyes

punkpirate17 (September 14, 2005)

This album's different than the Unseen's other ones. It's less political, more personal. I like it.

Anonymous (May 19, 2005)

victims = best song ever

Anonymous (November 3, 2004)

godd record, hard in your face streetpunk. but for me songs look all more or less the same....

Anonymous (July 9, 2003)

good. it's no lower class crucifixion though

COBRA-VERDE (June 13, 2003)

What are you talking about? We all watch mtv. We all think that they might actually show something good but alas it never happens. Youre channel surfing and you always check mtv. Am i aolne here?

NOFXPunkLTJ22 (June 13, 2003)

I like sum 41 and i do not watch mtv. Their old stuff sucks but the new CD isn't bad. Don't jump to conclusions.

Anonymous (June 12, 2003)

Yea, I figured that kinda... but I was more referring to the other guy. Sorry for the confusion.-BostonMusicGuy

Anonymous (June 12, 2003)

Oh man you suck almost as bad as Darkbuster...

COBRA is just kidding, he's an obvious joke (jock, too).

Anonymous (June 12, 2003)

Ok, seriously... I like sum41. But perhaps you didnt catch the reference I was making there. Duh, people that like Sum41 havent even heard of the unseen. Well guess what, I have and I have listened to them.... and just dont like them. My comment was a lyric from an old Darkbuster song, "I hate the Unseen." But I wouldnt expect an Unseen fan to know about Darkbuster...-BostonMusicGuy

COBRA-VERDE (June 11, 2003)

The guy below me thinks he's cool because he knows about this band... Sum41 fans obviuosly watch mtv right? So wouldnt they notice all the gay stickers and patches that the fatass good charlotte guitarist guy has of the unseen?.. Anyway thes guys suck... Next please

Anonymous (June 10, 2003)

I'm sure there are exceptions... But I think we can all agree that most Sum 41 fans wouldn't like this (let alone ever heard of the Unseen).

NOFXPunkLTJ22 (June 10, 2003)

I like Sum 41's new CD (it is not bad) and I like the unseen. And i dont listen to pop punk so dont start saying "go listen to good charlotte" and crap like that.

TurboACsOwnYou (June 9, 2003)

I listened to this album before i went to bed last nite. Tripp sings alot on this one, while paul only sings lead on one i think. I like pauls voice i think he should have sung on more tracks

www.plastic-jesus.com

Anonymous (June 9, 2003)

Wow, how surprising. A guy who listens to Sum 41 doesn't like the Unseen? How couldt this ever happen? The two bands sound so similar...

Though Sum41 has so much more street cred in Boston, apparently.

Anonymous (June 9, 2003)

I hate the Unseen and thats something that I aitn afraid to say-BostonMusicGuy

Anonymous (June 9, 2003)

Wow......this is really great. These guys have been a band that I have always been very close to checking out, but I never seemed to get the chance. Now that I bought this album, I'm happy to say that this is somewhere in the top 5 of the year so far.

Anonymous (June 8, 2003)

If you like this cd checkout Blind Society's "Contrary to popular belief." It's hardcore punk at it's best.

Anonymous (June 8, 2003)

This cd seems to be more hardcore, then like oi! or Street punk or whatever its called like there previous cds. Which is a plus if ya ask me!

Anonymous (June 7, 2003)

Definitely unseen's best album to date. I've also heard from a reliable source that
everything was recorded 1st take, fast, and
unfucked with making over production impossible.
Perhaps moldy's a little tone deaf and should stop commenting on his own review posing as someone else.

Anonymous (June 7, 2003)

excellent review, short and to the point... no uneeded history of a band that anyone could look up if they really felt like it and you don't come off like some fucking fan that has to prove how much of a fan they are or how punk they are (as is so popular on these boards.. thanks!)

as far as the production comment, its very valid.. I've listened to this album several times.. and while its very powerful it lacks the power that Lowerclass Crusifixion had and even So This is Freedom? had and I agree whole heartedly that it is the production put forth on it..

the album is by no means bad, and i even hold it up to Lowerclass.. can't wait to hear these songs go into their live setlists :D

Anonymous (June 7, 2003)

Well, in my eyes the mighty Unseen can do no wrong...This is a great album, but I do agree with Moldy that it is a little too produced for my liking. But hey, it's wonderful nonetheless. They keep coming up with some great stuff keeping street punk alive.
-Janelle

Anonymous (June 7, 2003)

wow that review suckedddddddddddddddddd. i learned the following from it:

TheOneTrueBill (June 7, 2003)

That's what being out of school will do to ya. There's still one place, but it's a bitch to get out there.

lieutenant (June 6, 2003)

When poster Ramo has related this album to the word "Ka-Boom", I must add that I am in complete agreement. Ka-boom! This album is crusty but with a satisfying taste of fullfillment, you know?

MrOhio (June 6, 2003)

Crap yes. These guys are awesome. Does Mark Unseen still play with A Global Threat? Because they "rock" as well.

Anonymous (June 6, 2003)

If you have enough time on your hands to run around to different stores looking for a street punk album, you suck.

Good album, another crappy review from Moldy. Taking more than half a star off for over-production is asinine.

TheOneTrueBill (June 6, 2003)

I've been to about 7 or 8 places looking for this, and still haven't found it. I've been looking forward to it for awhile too. Damn these stores that advertise having it but then don't

Anonymous (June 6, 2003)

one of the few street punk bands i genuinely like

inagreendase

Anonymous (June 6, 2003)

i'm catching the unseen tonight at the el n gee in new london with the forgotten. might end up picking this one up

Anonymous (June 6, 2003)

i really didn't like "the anger and the truth" a whole lot but "explode" is just that. Ka-boom. like I said before I was suprised and ended up liking this record.

Ramo

tenderbransonx (June 6, 2003)

Is it just me or do people who really really want to look punk wear unseen shirts..... that they bought at hot topic.
steven
really wanna yell about something?
www.murdertheturtle.com

Anonymous (June 6, 2003)

Suprisingly, this is one of my fav's of the year thus far.

-sickboi