Blistering, defiant, and driven: such could be said to describe Seether’s newest single, “Judas Mind”. On July 10th, the rock group released the track and announced their ninth studio album, The Surface Seems So Far, to be released on September 20th and produced by Matt Hyde, who has worked with the likes of Deftones and Slayer.
Seether formed in Pretoria, South Africa in 1999 but has since amassed a fanbase worldwide for their unique sonic identity and captivating music. Though the group spends much time in America today, their roots are a crucial aspect of their identity as a band. In a 2022 interview with SPIN, vocalist Shaun Morgan said that being from South Africa strengthened his desire for success “due to the fact that it was incredibly difficult to make it in South Africa, let alone the U.S.”
“Judas Mind” is a growling and brooding rock track that perfectly adds to Seether’s hard-rock discography. Equipped with sharply distorted guitar and Morgan’s grungy, fervent vocals, the single effortlessly hastens between moody, intense verses and the unapologetically roaring chorus. “‘Judas Mind’ is a song about reaching an understanding that there are bad actors in our lives that are trying to force an outcome for us that we don’t see as our destiny,” said Morgan in a statement. “It’s about rising up against people who have a vision for you that you don’t share.”
The track exists within the space between pain and empowerment, traversing from lyrics like “Your heart still succumbs to the fear unspoken,” to “But don't feel afraid as the storm blows this way / Know that truth can't fail us, can't enslave us.” As it explores the juxtaposition of simultaneous fear and confidence, it too details someone who “surrounds me with pain” and “betrays me again”, and how the narrator rises above that negative force.
“But don't feel afraid as the storm blows this way / Know that truth can't fail us / Can't enslave us”
Overall, “Judas Mind” is an essential listen for any rock fan. It skillfully blends raw emotion and unbridled yet calculated instrumental and vocal talent, with an effect that is both lasting and impactful. This single is the first of many new tracks from Seether, and it is safe to say that The Surface Seems So Far is sure to be a hit this fall.
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