Serafin

Serafin are unsigned, which proves more than anything else how little justice there is in the music world. With the rock scene apparently emerging in the mainstream more and more this year, we can only hope that there’s a place in it for Serafin.

Serafin are made up of a Canadian, two New Zealanders, and most importantly Ben Smith – ex-Stony Sleep man and little-known songwriting genius. Fans of Stony Sleep will automatically love Ben’s new venture – all the trademarks are there. Snarled vocals: check. Intertwined strangely tuned guitar lines: check. Pounding drums in unusual time signatures: check. And more importantly, songs about cows being made into shoes, and lyrics like “Feeding girls to shaven pigs”: check.

And fairly importantly, they look as cool as fuck as well. The only criticism with their live show would be the lack of banter with the crowd – Ben’s eyes focused furiously forwards during songs, and gazing embarrassed at his (non-leather) shoes in-between. But with songs like opener “Violently Hopefully” and the closing inferno of the intense “Cowboy Song”, I think they can be forgiven a few bashful moments – the music says everything that needs to be said.

Serafin are unsigned, and coincidentally godlike geniuses of the highest order. They almost certainly won’t remain unsigned for long, with quality songs like “Day By Day” combined with assured performances making them one of the best live acts I’ve seen for ages. Buy the CD from Peoplesound and go and see them now, before everyone else does.