When you look at the list of previous ventures from the members of Wait in Vain, it's hard to not get excited. Frontman Timm McIntosh was a founding member of Trial, as well as spending some time with Champion. Bassist (and now guitarist) Roger Kilburn was in Sinking Ships among others, guitarist Chris Jacobsen did some time with Set Your Goals, and drummer Alexei Rodriquez has played with Trial and Walls of Jericho. That's quite a list! But don't let those musical endeavors hold back what Wait in Vain has to offer.
Seasons is the Seattle straightedge band's debut full-length, and first recording since a demo back in 2005. After being plagued with numerous lineup difficulties the band finally has a sturdy cast to deliver its message with. This recording is ten tracks of 90's inspired metallic hardcore that is complimented by lyrics that are equally as thought provoking.
For the get go of "Another Year" it is undeniable that there is an influence from several of the members previous efforts, particularly Trial. But with McIntosh being the principal songwriter then and now, it is almost expected. The music is aggressive with a definite chug of 90's in it, but there is almost infused a substantial amount of melody; I often found myself referencing Ignite. Tracks like "Forget Me Not" demonstrates this fully, flexing the line between the 90's sounds that McIntosh helped trail blaze and those that Killburn most recently tackled with Sinking Ships. On the flipside, when Wait in Vain decides to hit it hard, they bring it all. "A Blind Eye" has two solid breakdowns, definitely heavy to get kids moving on the floor. "The Fix," re-recorded from the demo, and "White Picket Fences" round things out with an excellent balancing of heavy chug and fast-paced melodic hardcore.
Lyrically, McIntosh is still tied to the worlds of politics and social issues that were covered in Trial, but he's also taken the step to cover more personal topics as well (not that vocalist Greg Bennick didn't in Trial). Some of McIntosh's best lines come at his most personal reveals. For example, on "Seasons" he recalls the loss of a close friend and the dealing with them being gone. "Passions Just Like Mine" discusses the abandonment of dreams for a normal life while "Puritan" attacks the world of consumers and need for possessions. Overall, it's a varied set of lyrics.
Following a gap of inactivity, the return of Wait in Vain is a welcome one. Musically things are solid throughout, though at times a little repetitive. Lyrically, McIntosh has something to talk about, and in this day and age when there is a lot going on in the world, we need more bands like this. If you miss the 90's or just love what the Pacific Northwest has to offer, don't pass this album up.
