Seemless

Seemless emerged in 2003 as a Massachusetts metalcore supergroup whose sound blended positive, emo-tinged metal with pronounced Christian themes. Singer and lyricist Jesse David Leach assembled the lineup after an abrupt exit from Boston metal outfit Killswitch Engage, bringing in guitarist Pete Cortese—who had logged short stints with Killswitch Engage plus Medium and Overcast—alongside bassist Jeff Fultz and drummer Derek Kerswill, previously of Shadows Fall, Medium, and the incongruous reunited version of 1980s Christian metal band Stryper. Eschewing the post-hardcore leanings that marked the members’ earlier projects, the group pursued a more classic metal direction shaped by the Black Sabbath era’s foundational acts and grunge-era heavyweights such as Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, while Leach’s consistently affirmative lyrics supplied an uplifting counterbalance. In 2004 the band signed with Massachusetts alt-metal imprint Losing Face Records and issued its self-titled debut later that year. Favorable critical notices and an expanding concert following prompted the larger independent label Equal Vision Records to acquire Seemless, resulting in a reissue of the debut album in early 2005. The follow-up full-length, What Have We Become, arrived in fall 2006.