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Only a select few albums truly instill a sense of fear, and among them, Daughters’ You Won’t Get What You Want and Swans’ To Be Kind are notable. However, these records carry certain complexities. In contrast, I’ve Seen All I Need to See may not possess the eerie ambiance of To Be Kind or the sinister pop elements of You Won’t Get What You Want. Instead, it compensates with sheer, unrelenting intensity, akin not to a horror soundtrack, but rather the most violent scene in the darkest of films, portrayed through thunderous drums and distorted guitars.
The album kicks off with Douglas Dunn’s poem, The Kaleidoscope, depicting a cycle of grief. Sparse, booming drums and bursts of noise accompany a low metallic drone, setting the stage. As the track shifts to the distant wail of vocalist/guitarist Chip King, “A Lament” stutters and surges, struggling to take form.
Art that resonates isn’t always art that comforts.
This establishes the album’s mood—less a collection of melodies and more an imposing structure dedicated to the might of distortion. I must concede, I’ve Seen All I Need to See isn’t for everyone. Its largely atonal nature results in tracks often melding into one another. Even when the tempo rises above a funeral march, the songs feel burdened, as if the band is trying to escape a mire.
Yet, moments of release do exist. Notably, The City is Shelled crescendos with King’s vocals transforming into a goblin-like rasp over powerful piano chords, offering a rare glimpse of melody amidst layers of fuzz.
Though its runtime is just 38 minutes, I’ve Seen All I Need to See can resemble an endurance test. Like a marathon, this doesn’t diminish its value. There is a beauty in its harshness, reminiscent of the haunting and fierce nature of works like Bring Her Back. Art that challenges isn’t necessarily art that soothes.
If you’re looking for a record that conjures horror movie vibes without devolving into camp. Something that feels genuinely dangerous and frightening, and not just merely kind of spooky, The Body’s I’ve Seen All I Need to See is what you’re looking for. The record is available on Bandcamp and most streaming services, including Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube Music, and Spotify.
