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Despite having toured with some of the biggest names in the contemporary metal scene and having released two instant modern metalcore classics, Connecticut's cult heroes Currents somehow still remain the genre's best-kept secret. Inexplicably underrated and often overlooked, the band has always been a paradox to me - ridiculously good, rarely criticised, usual festival performers, frequent recommendations, backed by one of the best and most suitable labels in the game, and yet still not as big as one might expect. And then The Death We Seek came out and this might finally change once and for all.
Currents' latest offering is a straightforward masterclass, taking the best sides from their previous records and elevating them to a whole new and improved level. The Death We Seek echoes the primal charge and intimate honesty of The Place I Feel Safest, whilst matching the ambition, grandeur, and scope of The Way It Ends, all seen through the prism of a band clearly entering their prime years. This album was always going to be a highlight this year, but somehow Currents managed to raise the bar even higher, and as SharpTone put it masterfully in their new bio, musically and lyrically they set "new standards for dissonance, dissatisfaction, and existential dread, with unstoppable fury."
Currents are well-known for their distinctive brand of djenty, proggy and emotionally-charged contemporary metalcore, and while they did not invent this volatile concoction, The Death We Seek certainly perfected it. No disrespect to anyone else but there are many bands that currently sound similar, but there is certainly only one Currents, gradually becoming the brightest star in SharpTone Records' ever-expanding roster, and the very core of a sub-scene that continues to expand and evolve. If there was ever a doubt whether Currents can keep up with their style in the modern metal world, this LP silences them all with all the force and passion we have learned to expect from them.
Even the fussiest "djent-core" connosseurs who might have previously criticsed Currents for becoming repetative and failing to step outside of their comfort zone, must agree that The Death We Seek excells in variety and imagination. Currents have really let loose in terms of songwriting, arrangement and production, their third record creatively outshining the previous and the rest of the scene. At its melodic highs, the album is hauntingly vulnerable and fragile, and at its most furious it becomes a destructive force of nature; all emotions pushed to their breaking point with Brian Wille rising to the occasion yet again.
The Death We Seek wastes no time and sets the tone right from the start with its exemplary title track. Song by song, Currents delve deeper into a vast array of themes and tones, revealed in spectacular flair, whilst staying true to the overal direction and their signature sound. The familiar promotional singles 'So Alone', 'Remember Me', and 'Vengeance' shine just as bright within the record's smooth flow, while new tracks like 'Living In Tragedy', 'Beyond This Road', 'Over and Over' and 'Gone Astray' add musical depth and emotional layers to an already outstanding and exemplary modern metalcore release.
People already familiar with Current should not be surprised by how good The Death We Seek really is, and those who finally hear them for the first time will be easily convinced that this is one of the most exciting releases so far this year. We are yet to see whether they finally get the wider recognition they so deserve, but I am certain there is a bright future ahead of them. The metalcore is constantly changing and evolving but whatever direction it takes next, Currents are bound to play a very key role in the coming years.
Currents - 'The Death We Seek'
Country: USA (CT)
Released: 5 May 2023
Label: SharpTone Records
Tracklisting:
1. 'The Death We Seek'
2. 'Living In Tragedy'
3. 'Unfamiliar'
4. 'So Alone'
5. 'Over and Over'
6. 'Beyond This Road'
7. 'Vengeance'
8. 'Gone Astray'
9. 'Remember Me'
10. 'Guide Us Home'
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