Karma and Effect

These L.A.-based rockers had a terrific hit in 2004’s ”Broken,” frontman Shaun Morgan’s writhing Goth-metal duet with Evanescence singer (and girlfriend) Amy Lee. And Seether’s latest suggests they could use a little more Lee: Too often on this Creed-like CD, Karma and Effect, they get bogged down in tuneless guitar chug and enraged-male bellow. Still, Morgan strikes rock-radio gold in ”The Gift,” a deliciously moody ballad for miserable mall stalkers.