Let's find ALL the reviews for Specs

YOU SO RULE METAL-SISTER and thank you so much for taking time to review the disc. We appreciate you spreading the word about us and we'll see you at Headway?

We send you the METAL sign \m/

Jasun
 
Dragonlady1 RULES and here's her review from POWERMETAL.DE Online Magazin - The Power of Metal, Rock and Gothic translated in English!!!

New singer, new good fortune. ZERO HOUR are an extraordinary volume and also if they introduce with "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" once again a new singer, remains stamped in that-Metal-Heroen out of American country otherwise a few things same. Who on the trusted Frickelparts, that trusts to bass orgy and guitar orgy of the twins Troy (bass) and Jasun (guitar) hint tone and the complex and yet catchy compositions, that is conferred can with the new album well, for with exactly these elements ZERO HOUR of also this once again points. To be sure the instrumental aspect Mind" fragile by "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" basically of the predecessor "A (what in view of the fact, that between both albums degree of a year lies not remarkable is) does not differ, but the new singer Chris Salinas (Ex-POWER OF OMENS) gives the Sound an additional dimension. One and became accustomed first of all to the new man at the Mikro, the comparison to the predecessor fells actually more and more to its Gunsten from.

Chris is namely extremely multilaterally with its voice volumes and uncovers passes an astonishingly far spectrum, that of deep, warm voice situations up to almost already Halford-suspect song to that. And Chris seems to have also a predeliction for FATES WARNING, for the influences in the song lines are unmistakable and more strongly then ever, just in so beautiful ballads as well as 'Face The Fear'.

ZERO HOUR seem to proceeded and to have itself on its new master work generally gladly in balladeske Gefilde a brilliant feel for sensitive melody, like about in the refrain of 'The Falcon's it Cry' or to the almost already fragilely causing 'Embrace'. And exactly this combination out of demanding passages and emotional melodies makes ZERO HOUR so especially. To no time, the Frickelparts are exaggerated irritatingly or quite, has would go one the feeling, here to no time it only therefore that musicians demonstrate its ability. No, ZERO HOUR appear always also gefühlsbetont, and they prove that with "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" very especially.

ZERO HOUR are however also refined if it concerns the arrangement of the songs and let every musician its star hours. So comes places shows after the Titeltrack, with which above all the new singer Chris its ability under proof such a song, that is named not only like the volumes themselves 'Zero Hour', but rather that purely instrumental over two minutes, have what the hint tone-brothers so thereon... Wow! Then again a geese skin song for dreaming is the ballad 'I following on that at the Here' and shows how much feeling Chris can put into its voice, before one concludes the album with a 8-minutes stamped-hammer.

Only point of criticism at "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" would be actual the relatively short game time of only almost 43 minutes, but if ZERO HOUR present us each year with so crazy albums, one can bear also this small minor matter.

Anspieltipps: Face The Fear, The Falcon’s it Cry, I at the Here
 
Well now I just received 2 more reviews on "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" in my email box.

Here's the first one from Geschrieben von Andreas Weber
Dienstag, 5. Dezember 2006 Evilized Webzine - Zero Hour - Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond (Prog-Tipp!)

Eins gleich vorneweg: Was Zero Hour hier mit ihrem mittlerweile vierten Album abliefern, lässt sich kaum in Worte fassen. Nicht mal so sehr von der Musik her, die absolut grossartig ausgefallen ist (aber dazu später mehr) sondern vielmehr, dass es die Band geschafft hat, ein solch komplexes und starkes Album innerhalb eines Jahres zu komponieren und aufzunehmen und das erst noch, nachdem man einen Sängerwechsel verdauen musste. Hut ab. Der neue Mann hinter dem Mikro heisst Chris Salinas und ist einigen vielleicht noch von seiner Tätigkeit bei Power Of Omens bekannt. Und schon alleine die Gesangsleistung dieses Mannes verdient höchsten Respekt. Salinas schafft es, seine Stimme in schwindelerregende Höhen zu buxieren ohne dabei an Kraft und Power zu verlieren. Genauso beherrscht er aber auch tiefere Gesangslagen und erreicht dabei hin und wieder eine Geoff Tate-Schlagseite.

Was aber machen Zero Hour genau für Musik? Viele Leute werden die Band nicht kennen, was auch kein Wunder ist, denn diese Musik wird man nie, nie, nie im Radio hören. Diese Musik braucht Zeit, Verständnis und vielleicht auch ein gewisses Mass an Nerven. Die Rede ist hier von Progressiv Heavy/Power-Metal. Die Worte Heavy und Power kann man hier bewusst anstreichen, denn mit Bombast-Progmetal der Marke Dream Theater haben Zero Hour nichts am Hut, ausser vielleicht, dass vereinzelte Gitarrenläufe mal nach dem Traumtheater zu Anfangszeiten klingen, was etwa beim Opener „Face the Fear“ zu hören ist. Zero Hour verzichten aber vollumfänglich auf Keyboards, was alleine schon ein Grund für die Heavyness der Musik ist. Ansonsten gehen die Amis mit einer enormen Power zu Werke, streuen aber immer wieder ruhigere und eingängigere Passagen ein, welche jeweils willkommene Verschnaufpausen zu dem bisweilen anstrengenden Material sind.

Zero Hour brauchen Zeit und trotzdem wird hier nicht einfach auf Teufel komm raus losgefrickelt. Gerade im gesanglichen Bereich schafft es Salinas immer wieder, eingängige, stimmungsvolle und mitreissende Melodien über die komplexen Riffs und Breaks zu legen, was dem Material eine völlig eigene Note gibt. So erinnern einige Riffattacken an Bands der Marke Nevermore (wie beim Titeltrack oder dem Rausschmeisser „Evidence of the Unseen“) oder sehr harte, alte Fates Warning. Und noch ein weiterer Name darf im Vergleich mit Zero Hour auf keinen Fall fehlen, nämlich die göttlichen Watchtower, welche allerdings doch noch weniger eingängig als Zero Hour zu Werke gehen.

So bietet das Album eine Menge technisches Können, verbunden mit herausragenden Melodien, starken Riffs und meisterhaften Soloparts auf der einen und ruhigen, atmosphärischen und eingängigen Parts auf der anderen Seite. Einzig das instrumental gehaltene „Zero Hour“ zerrt ein wenig zu sehr an meinem Nervenkostüm, da hier das technische Können über das Melodieverständnis gestellt wird. Aber vielleicht klinkt sich das nach 94 weiteren Durchläufen auch noch ein.

Auf jeden Fall haben Zero Hour ein richtiges Progmetal-Highlight zum Schluss des Jahres hingelegt. Die Zielgruppe kann – nein, MUSS zuschlagen. Für die bierseelige Sylvesterparty empfehle ich allerdings etwas ganz Anderes.

Tracklist:
01. Face the Fear
02. The Falcon’s Cry
03. Embrace
04. Specs of Pictures burnt beyond
05. Zero Hour
06. I am here
07. Evidence of the Unseen




Bewertung: 93 %
VÖ: 23.11.2006
Zero Hour


Here it is translated in English

One equally ahead way: What Zero Hour deliver here with its album fourth meanwhile, can be grasped hardly into words. Even so very of the music here, that absolutely magnificently fallen out is not separate (however in addition later more) rather that it created the volumes to compose and to receive a such complex and strong album within a year and that first yet after one had to digest a singer change. Hat off. The new man behind the Mikro is named Chris Salinas and is some perhaps yet of its activity in Power of Omens well known. And already alone the song achievement of this man earns highest respect. Salinas creates it to lose its voice in schwindelerregende heights to buxieren without at the same time at power and Power. Just as it controls however also deeper song situation and reaches at the same time there and again a Geoff deed blow side.

What do however Zero Hour make exactly for music? Many people will not know the volumes, what also no miracle is, for this music never will hear one, never, never in the radio. This music needs time, understanding and perhaps also a certain measure at nerve. The speech is here progressive of Heavy/Power-Metal. One deliberately can paint the words Heavy and Power here, for with Bombast-Progmetal of the sign Dream theater Zero Hour have nothing at the hat except perhaps, that isolated guitar courses sound once after the dream theater to beginning times, what is to be heard about in the Opener "Face the Fear". Zero Hour forgo however completely Keyboards, what alone already a reason is for the Heavyness of the music. Otherwise the Americans with an enormous Power go too works, scatter however again and again quieter and catchier passage on, which respectively welcome Verschnaufpausen to the at times strenuous material are.

Zero Hour need time and nevertheless becomes here not simply on devil come out losgefrickelt. Just in the gesanglichen area, it creates snatch up Salinas again and again, catchy, disposition full and entraining melody over the complex and to put Breaks, what gives the material a note own totally. So some Riffattacken remind Nevermore (like in the Titeltrack or the Rausschmeisser "Evidence of the us ice") or very hard, old Fates Warning of volume of the sign. And another further name compares to be missing Zero Hour in that on no case, namely the divine Watchtower which go to be sure yet yet fewer catchily than Zero Hour too works.

So the album offers snatch up a quantity of technical ability, connected with exceptional melodies, strong and masterful solo part on the one and quiet, atmospheric and catchy part on the other side. Only the instrumental held "Zero Hour" tugs a few too very at my nerve costume because here the technical ability is placed over the melody understanding. But perhaps klinkt itself that after 94 further conduits also another.

In any case Zero Hour left a correct Progmetal-Highlight to the end of the year. The target group can – no, must slam. For the beer lake leagues Sylvesterparty, I recommend to be sure somewhat entirely other.

Tracklist: 01St Face the Fear 02nd The Falcon’s it Cry 03rd Embrace 04th Specs of Pictures burnt beyond 05th
Zero Hour 06th I at the here 07th Evidence of the us ice



Estimation: 93% VÖ: 23.11.2006 Zero Hour
 
Here's the 2nd one from Zero Magazine Northern California's finest. Review was done by Dave Pirtle (THE MADMAN)
Zeromag.com - Zero Mag for the Zero Decade


Zero Hour
Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond
Sensory Records
Send This CD Review to a Friend


After the disappointment that was last year’s A Fragile Mind and the inner turmoil that surrounded it, fans of Pleasanton’s Zero Hour can breathe a sigh of relief with the release of Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond. The addition of former Power of Omens vocalist Chris Salinas has given them something they haven’t had in years: a dedicated frontman with a strong range and enough power to not get smothered by the music. The uber-talented duo of guitarist Jasun Tipton and his brother-bassist Troy are as impressive as ever, always ready to blow your mind with nimble fretwork, yet more than willing to reel it in and allow Salinas to shine during the stronger vocal passages.

Let’s not overlook drummer Mike Guy, who is never given the spotlight but lays down the rhythm with machine like precision and skill. The only flaw on this entire album is that it’s too short. Aside from clocking in at a mere 43 minutes, there are two short instrumentals and the acoustic “I Am Here”, none of which are bad per se, but I’d gladly sacrifice them in favor of a couple more full-length compositions. Still, it’s a small price to pay to hear prog-metal this good, technical without being pretentious and epic without being overblown.


- Dave Pirtle
 
Another sent my way from Sensory!!

ZERO HOUR: “Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond” (Sensory – The Lazer's Edge – Bertus)


From Pleasanton, CA, this quartet (who saw lead singer Chris Salinas – ex-Power Of Omens – replace longtime member Erik Rosvold in February of this year) is highly respected in the Progressive Metal scene of the greater Bay Area region (for those of you who're interested, Pleasanton is situated some 30 kms from the Bay, about 60 from main town San Fransisco, and roughly in the middle of San Jose and Concord). When twin brothers Jasun (guitar) & Troy (bass) Tipton started the band in '93, things were looking really dire for Metal in The States. In fact, many thought the era of Metal was all done with, but the brother would not let these negative doomthinkers come in between themselves and the music they craved for. Their visionwas to create a dark, heavy, emotional vibe expressed through intricate arrangements, forceful vocals, and meaningful lyrics.. In doin' so, they not only kept Progressive Metal in a place of honor, but also reshaped its mold in the process (mainly by also adding a certain degree of Technical Metal to the whole).

In 1998, the band released their self-financed and self-titled debut on a 2000 piece rotation...which sold out with such rapidity, that it left fans worldwide (and the media along) panting for more material from the band. More came with 2001's "The Towers Of Avarice" (spawned rave reviews from magazines all over the globe), their debut on the Sensory label, who also made the band's self-released debut available to fans worldwide by issueing "Metamorphosis" in 2004 (being the material from that debut + 4 bonus – older – songs). Meanwhile, they've already tourred Europe, and performed twice at USA's largest Prog Metal festival Progpower (make that thrice, since they went back in September of this year). A third full-length with all-original material came with last year's "A Fragile Mind", and now we find the quartet (completed with drummer Mike Guy) returning for a 4 th...with a new singer!

Which brings us to confession time...because I never even héard of the band before, let stand heard a note of their music! To my regret, because I really love what I hear on this 7-track album. Two of the tracks are rather short (under 2 ½ minutes) instrumentals ("Embrace" being semi-acoustic, "Zero Hour" more energetic in spite of the calmer intro), meaning the remaining songs have quite a respectable length (album opener "Face The Fear" clocks at 9 minutes exactly), leaving place for several mood and tempo changes per song. Musically, Progressive scales are played with alternating degree of technicality, and with an occasional touch of Jazz/Fusion...but just a toùch, mind you! Plenty of breaks, pace changes, energy level changes (moving from distorted to etheric and backwards, etc...). Album closing "Evidence Of The Unseen", with its spoken word bits in some of the calmer passages, has a very militaristic guitar/ drum sound in most of the heavier parts of the song. The vocalist is really something else! With the more energetic opening of the album, he initially follows suit, delivering his vocals in Geoff Tate style, but for the most time, his style is actually rather calm, siren-like, and...bringing darkness, in a weird way! A wonderful vocalist, inciting one to try and sing along from note one (although a bit difficult when he goes high pitch), and quite fitting in Zero Hour's musical style!

Overall, I cannot help myself from putting the album (official release date Oct. 10 th) in my "Best Albums Of 2006"-list!

98/100

Tony.
 
Another review found from Bright Eyes Germany - Hardrock Magazin und Metal Magazin - Täglich Neues Musikmagazin Had the site do a free translation to english from German, Have both versions.


That 2005-it work Mind" of fragile "A the hint tone-brothers had elicits me numerous words of the jubilation and a thick 12-augen-wertung 12-augen-wertung eye 12-augen-wertung evaluation, no miracle therefore that I was strained on the new album more than. And after the first critical conduit disappointed to the side placed. To be sure one replaced the single point of criticism of the last album, the Shouter, by Chris Salinas (ex-Power of Omens), but is its most in highest spheres herumturnendes organ also not always the wisdom last end. Sounds simply like a typical high US (progressive) Metal-Shouter, that gladly glasses of zersingt tints and a mixture out of Warrel Dane in highest situations and the earlier Toxik-Kreischer Mike Sanders. We but go again at "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" up to, and that some times. At the same time fells up that the Riffing again amol super fat is set and excellently in scene and lets think of Communic, Nevermore and Dream theater (of which itself some snatch up and Breaks fixed have). In comparison with the predecessor, ZERO HOUR go yet more technically and a trace frickeliger at the work, what noticeably makes itself a bissle to loads of a Songwritings milling into the ear. One gives vigorous Riffgewittern as well as the superben Opener 'Face The Fear' or the Titeltrack however the necessary settling, song passages can settle let itself immediately, that more workable make the bulky scaffolding. Two shorter interludes as well as the ballad 'I at the Here' (Nevermore covers Queensryche early!)! relax the numbers lasting in the cut almost 8 minutes up and provide that the song soul sacrificed in a number as well as 'The Factory’s it Cry' for the benefit of the technology is stroked. With enough access points ZERO HOUR also in the discontinued year 2006, not entirely can reach to be sure the class of the predecessor. "advantage through technology" agrees therefore not always. Complex-Metaller loving for hardness nevertheless importantly.

11 of 13 eyes Oliver

Das 2005-er Werk „A Fragile Mind” der Tipton-Brüder hatte mir zahlreiche Worte des Jubels und eine dicke 12-Augen-Wertung entlockt, kein Wunder also, dass ich auf das neue Album mehr als gespannt war. Und nach dem ersten kritischen Durchlauf enttäuscht zur Seite stellte. Zwar hat man den einzigen Kritikpunkt des letzten Album, den Shouter, durch Chris Salinas (ex-Power Of Omens) ersetzt, aber dessen meist in höchsten Sphären herumturnendes Organ ist auch nicht immer der Weisheit letzter Schluss. Klingt halt wie ein typischer hoher US (Progressive) Metal-Shouter, der gerne Gläser zersingt und eine Mischung aus Warrel Dane in höchsten Lagen und dem früheren Toxik-Kreischer Mike Sanders tönt. Aber gehen wir erneut an „Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond“ heran, und das einige Male. Dabei fällt auf, dass das Riffing wieder amol superfett und exzellent in Szene gesetzt ist und an Communic, Nevermore und Dream Theater (von denen sich einige Riffs und Breaks festgesetzt haben) denken lässt. Im Vergleich zum Vorgänger gehen ZERO HOUR noch technischer und eine Spur frickeliger ans Werk, was sich a bissle zu Lasten eines ins Ohr fräsenden Songwritings bemerkbar macht. Gibt man energischen Riffgewittern wie dem superben Opener ‚Face The Fear’ oder dem Titeltrack aber die nötige Eingewöhnung, so können sich alsbald Songpassagen ausmachen lassen, die das sperrige Gerüst tragfähiger machen. Zwei kürzere Zwischenspiele sowie die Ballade ‚I Am Here’ (Nevermore covern frühe Queensryche!!) lockern die im Schnitt fast 8 Minuten dauernden Nummern auf und sorgen dafür, dass die bei einer Nummer wie ‚The Factory’s Cry’ zugunsten der Technik geopferte Songseele gestreichelt wird. Mit genug Zugang punkten ZERO HOUR auch im auslaufenden Jahr 2006, können allerdings die Klasse des Vorgängers nicht ganz erreichen. „Vorsprung durch Technik“ stimmt also nicht immer. Für Härte liebende Komplex-Metaller dennoch wichtig.
11 von 13 Augen
Oliver Vollmer
 
New review that was just sent over by Sensory!!!

Tim Wadzinski
Owner, Detritus e-zine


ZERO HOUR - SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND (B+) Sensory, 2006
7 tracks, RT: 43:08
[ Zero Hour ]
[ www.myspace.com/zerohourband ]
[ The Laser's Edge Group ]
[ The Laser's Edge, LLC ]
Zero Hour is back with a new album and vocalist, following up 2005's A
FRAGILE MIND with the unusually titled SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND.
I was fortunate to see these guys live at ProgPower USA not just once
but on two occasions, and I can certainly attest to their prog metal
skills. SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND starts of with "Face The Fear,"
and after about 20 seconds you pretty much know what you are in for
throughout the album: jarring rhythms, complex drumming, and the
haunting voice of Chris Salinas (Power Of Omens). Chris is inevitably
going to be compared to the bar-setters in prog metal and not without
good reason, his voice often resembling the early stylings of Geoff
Tate, John Arch and Ray Alder. "The Falcon's Cry" blasts out with more
of the band's trademark choppy rhythmic attack, Chris' passionate
vocals soaring above the maelstrom produced by brothers Jason and Troy
Tipton (guitar and bass, respectively) and drummer Mike Guy. The
frequent staccato aspect of the music may be difficult for some
listeners to appreciate, but the juxtaposition of clean chordal
voicings and Chris' emotional delivery serve to offset the sometimes
cold, impersonal nature of the arrangements. One of my favorites is "I
Am Here," a quieter piece allowing the band to mellow and let the music
breathe in a manner not unlike that found on Queensryche's RAGE FOR
ORDER masterpiece. Zero Hour is ultimately a progressive metal outfit
from the same sonic neighborhood as bands like WatchTower, Spiral
Architect and latter period Fates Warning, and nowhere is this more
apparent than on the stunning title track and closer "Evidence Of The
Unseen," both containing over seven minutes of the kind of technical
playing that simultaneously frustrates and inspires would-be virtuosos.
SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND is not the type of feel-good metal that
everyone is going to warm up to, but it will definitely do the trick
for those into the precise rhythmic complexity and vocal brilliance
that prog is known for. If that means you, do yourself a favor and
check this out, in my opinion their most fully realized work to date.
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@gmail.com)

Detritus Rock/Metal e-zine
"Rock Hard With A Purpose"
Detritus : Detritus is a weekly hard rock and heavy metal e-zine featuring news, reviews, rumors, special reports, and more. If you're in
www.myspace.com/detritusezine
 
Here's a upcoming review in fireworks magazine that I just received from Sensory Records.

ZERO HOUR – ‘SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND’ (Sensory Records)

From the off, the incongruous and/or seemingly unintelligible title betrays this as a progressive metal offering, but does ‘Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond’ deliver the goods? The answer is most definitely yes.

Zero Hour date back to 1993, originate from the San Francisco Bay Area – not to my knowledge a prog metal hotbed – and feature the talents of twin brothers Jasun and Troy Tipton on guitar and bass respectively, drummer Mike Guy and recent addition Chris Salinas behind the mikestand. ‘Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond’ is their fifth album since their 1999 self-titled and self-pressed limited edition debut.

Fans of anyone from Dream Theater and Fates Warning to Pagan’s Mind and Vanden Plas should lap this up. As you might expect, the majority of the songs are quite lengthy, developing and intertwining over time so that each is an epic in itself. Heavy riffs give way to intricate soloing, deft drum touches herald double bass poundings, softly-sung melodic passages precede neck-breaking work-outs, and there are enough time changes to give you jet-lag. Two brief instrumentals break things up, Jasun’s jaunty guitar piece ‘Embrace’ and ‘Zero Hour’. Neither of these pass the two-and-a-half minute barrier, and although the mid-section of the latter does plant its feet pretty squarely in Dream Theater’s ‘Ytse Jam’ territory, that’s no bad thing in itself.

The whole album is slicker than a Wall Street deal. It’s a technically proficient fusion of progressive metal and power, with superb musicianship and songs that swing from downbeat and dour to headstrong and exciting. Chris Salinas in particular is an excellent asset, phrasing like James LaBrie and hitting the high notes like Geoff Tate of days gone by. And if that’s not enough, the fact that Zero Hour have now appeared twice at the ProgPower Festival in their homeland should bear testament to their credentials.

All that and a didgeridoo, too; what more could you ask for?

John Tucker
December 2006
 
Just received an email from Val of The Metal Observer and was making aware of this review of "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond".

THE METAL OBSERVER - Review - ZERO HOUR - Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond

Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Sensory
Playing time: 43:08
Band homepage: Zero Hour

Tracklist:

Face The Fear
The Falcon’s Cry
Embrace
Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond
Zero Hour
I Am Here
Evidence Of The Unseen >mp3
Now here’s a band I’ve been meaning to check out for a while. ZERO HOUR is back with their fourth long player and it’s clear that the Californians have quite a following eager to snap this album up. The band’s apparently made up of a bunch of workaholics, as they turned around and released this Progressive/Technical beast a year after “A Fragile Mind.” Somewhere along the way they exchanged vocalists and picked up Chris Salinas (ex-POWER OF OMENS). I can’t comment on the previous vocalist, but Salinas is a strong choice with a clear voice and an only mild tendency to stay in the annoyingly high range. He really shines on the mostly acoustic “I Am Here,” where he avoids the histrionics.



This is some good, classy stuff. It’s professional, vaguely in the DREAM THEATER model but more immediate. Most of the time. Sometimes they drift a bit, but when it’s focused this material is strong, varied, and technical. I think I said that before. No, they won’t alienate you with a wall of sound only a person with a degree in advanced music theory could understand. They will keep you interested with cascading, twittering, convulsing, and turning riffs. Though the focus is on riffs and progressions that everybody follows, solo enthusiasts won’t be disappoint: just look to the end of “Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond” to find a sweet one repeated acoustically in “Zero Hour.” It’s a nice touch.



Most of the songs are of appropriate Prog length. “Face The Fear” hits the nine minute mark and features a long internal period of calm. “Specs Of Pictures…,” “Evidence Of The Unseen,” and “The Falcon’s Cry” break the seven minute mark. Admittedly, I’m not as enthralled with this album as a lot of reviewers seem to be—some of the soft drifting parts just carry on too long, too pointlessly for me—but this is good stuff that any Prog fan shouldn’t be without.


It seems that between this and TWISTED INTO FORM, Prog is having a great year-end showing. And between these guys, CANVAS SOLARIS, and DEGREE ABSOLUTE, Sensory’s on a roll for 2006.

(Online December 14, 2006)
 
This is the review I did for metalreviews.com. I promised it a while ago, but as it became apparent this would be my number one of 2006 I figured I'd make it my final review of 2006 (or first review of 2007, I guess). Had Solitude Aeturnus' Alone come out sooner it would have been a tough choice, but since I've had this album a lot longer and I've listened to it far more, Alone sits at number two (and what a killer album it is!).

yearalbum2.jpg


When I was in the Air Force and stationed in Arkansas, every Summer would see countless houses destroyed by the devastating power of tornados; but the foundations always remained, on which new houses could be built. Some people chose to give up and move on, while others chose to rebuild upon that unmoving foundation. We cannot build without a strong foundation; this concept can be applied to anything in life. Like the ever-growing, digging roots of a great, old tree, the brothers Tipton, Jasun (guitars) and Troy (bass), and Mike Guy (drums) are the foundation on which Zero Hour is built. Erik Rosvold (vocals) was the tower that was built upon the foundation for two albums, Zero Hour (re-released in 2003 as Metamorphosis with two bonus tracks) and The Towers Of Avarice. The winds of change swept through and Rosvold left the band after The Towers Of Avarice, an album widely considered their best. It took four years and the release of A Fragile Mind—my personal favorite—for the band re-emerge as a solid unit; this time the vocals were handled by Fred Marshall. Again, the seemingly impenetrable walls crumbled within and Zero Hour was left as a foundation with no walls, a skeleton without skin, as Marshall took his leave from the band.

Rosvold and Marshall were both excellent vocalists, their abilities airtight, both offering something a little different but neither negatively affecting the quality of the music, only enhancing it in their own special way. So how does a band rebuild and forge ahead after losing two extremely strong vocalists before the foundation begins to crack? We’ve seen it countless times when bands go through multiple singers or musicians; eventually the odds go against the band and everything implodes. Or the band simply begins to release sub-par or downright terrible music (Sepultura and Skid Row, respectively). Zero Hour have done neither. Less than a year after the release of A Fragile Mind, Zero Hour had an entire new album written: Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond. But they needed to rebuild once again. The band not only found a strong singer, but one that makes the extremely talented Rosvold and Marshall seem like distant, hazy memories.

Enter ex-Power Of Omens vocalist Chris Salinas, one whose breath also possesses the devastating power of a tornado, a cross between Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche), Ray Alder (Fates Warning), with an occasional Rob Halford (Judas Priest) moment. Like Marshall after Rosvold, Salinas brings Zero Hour to a new plateau. Where Rosvold was a little more unique and poetic with his melodies and Marshall was more catchy with his, Salinas is far more emotional and powerful, his vocal lines stretch and expand across the musical landscape like echoes carried by a mournful breeze. Musically, the Tiptons are all over the place as usual, and once again corralled into a cohesive, monstrous beast by Mike Guy; and with the addition of Salinas’ undeniably powerful and captivating vocals, he almost becomes the substratum of Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond.

The album opener “Face The Fear” begins things in typical Zero Hour fashion: Jasun’s ultra-technical, bone-crushing riffs, Troy’s twisted and endlessly entwined bass runs, relentless drum work from the underrated Mike Guy, and sparse, melodic interludes; but this time things cut a little bit deeper when Salinas injects his moody, melancholic, darkly poetic, and chill-inducing vocals. You could listen to this track on repeat all day long, totally satisfied, with no need to go to track two. (You’d be crazy, of course.) “The Falcon’s Cry” is that next track; it’s a heavier track intermingled with some melodic passages, oddly timed, musically and vocally, but mesmerizing in its consummate angularity. “Embrace” follows. It’s a short instrumental, one of two on the album—the other being “Zero Hour,” an aptly titled heavier number—an acoustic/electric number, with some subtle, distant harmonies playing out in the background. After that brief respite, the pummeling “Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond” bursts out of the speakers, heavy, stomping through a piercing wall of wails from the lungs of Salinas. The final two minutes is pure shredding, solos and riffs, a crushing cacophony of contradicting beauty (that also incorporates part of “Embrace”). The short instrumental “Zero Hour” is followed by “I Am Here,” a stunning ballad, acoustic guitar and vocals, one that bleeds pure emotion, showcasing just how far Zero Hour have come with the addition of Chris Salinas on vocals. Saving the best for last—as if the previous tracks weren’t good enough!—“Evidence Of The Unseen” is a rollercoaster ride of epic progressive metal superiority; shifting from euphonious breaks to jackhammer rhythms, layered with some of the most exceptional vocal melodies I’ve heard on a progressive metal album, Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond ends with a spectacular display of brilliance, which makes the entire album shine that much brighter.

Zero Hour have made quite a name for themselves within the progressive metal community over the past few years. A distinction that has landed them high upon the massive heap that is progressive metal. The masterpiece known as Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond only further solidifies Zero Hour as one of the finest, pound-for-pound progressive metal acts in the world. It rarely gets any better than this. Raise your glasses and your horns in honor of the best metal album of 2006!

MP3: Evidence Of The Unseen, There For Me (from A Fragile Mind), Stratagem (from The Towers Of Avarice), and Eyes Of Denial (from Zero Hour/Metamorphosis)

Note: In time these links will likely becoming outdated.
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Eyesore:

Killer review, killer job!

Being the die-hard Solitude Aeturnus fan I am, I owe it to myself to go pick up Alone ASAP. That said, I still can't help but think they will never surpass their first two, particularly Beyond the Crimson Horizon.
 
batmura said:
Eyesore:

Killer review, killer job!

Being the die-hard Solitude Aeturnus fan I am, I owe it to myself to go pick up Alone ASAP. That said, I still can't help but think they will never surpass their first two, particularly Beyond the Crimson Horizon.
Click to expand...
I've loved them all, even Downfall, which sounds like ass (I'd like to smack the guy who mixed it, so would the band! Haha.) The new one is different in that it comes off more doomy but more of a metal album at the same time. It's weird, but it's a killer album. Definitely get the version with the bonus track!
 
http://www.mrrock.net/zerohour.htm

mrrocklogo.jpg

Zero Hour - Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond

Rating: 10/10
Label: Sensory Records
Year: 2006
​

San Francisco’s ZERO HOUR beginnings date back to 1998 when twin brothers Jasun (guitar) and Troy (bass) Tipton decided it was time for them to wave the metal banner. With loads of shows (including the prestigious ProgPower USA festival twice), and three albums under the belts, the band have just released their fourth disc, Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond, their first album with vocalist Chris Salinas.
Simply speaking, Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond is a stellar slab of prog metal genius, highlighted by amazing songwriting, excellent performances, and what it most likely the vocal performance of the year.
The disc begins off with Face the Fear, a tune that has a really cool bass intro, intricate guitar riffs, and fabulous vocals that are reminiscent of Geoff Tate (QUEENSRYCHE) at the top of his game. Displaying both power and control, singer Salinas can nail the highs effortlessly, while soulfully conveying the lows. The song has a dynamic break around two minutes in which adds real depth to the song, the prog madness picking up again around two minutes later. Falcon's Cry also has a great intro, Troy Tipton’s stellar bass work similar in style to that of one Billy Sheehan. Salinas again hits some beautiful Tate-esque notes here with ease, the man showing he is truly a vocal tour de force. And the whispered vocals are also a beautiful touch. The instrumental tune Embrace showcases Jasun Tipton’s classy guitar style, and the vocal ‘cries’ in the background are a superb touch that’s really haunting and atmospheric. The song also offers a nice change of pace for the listener. The title track, Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond, displays some beautiful music interplay, the drums, bass, and guitar seamlessly intertwined, with drummer Mike Guy sure getting a good workout during this tune. The tune also features some great dynamics and a great prog gods solo. Zero Hour (the song, not the band) is a classy, half rockin’, half acoustic (could be just very clean electric guitar though) instrumental that’s not often heard in rock these days. The song once again showcases the band’s talent as songwriters. I Am Here is a really nice, atmospheric number, Salinas’ passionate vocals shining brightly through, his vocal layers once again adding superb depth to the song. Evidence of the Unseen finishes off this fine disc in excellent fashion with it’s great dynamic range and has some marvelous, soaring vocals.
Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond is a fabulous album, nicely produced by Dino Alden, who stays out of the way and let’s the band do what they do. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the sign of a good producer.
With really cool songwriting and wonderful performances, Zero Hour have proven themselves to be a top notch band of prog masters. Prog metal can be an acquired taste for a lot of people, some saying the bands are ‘showboating’, or ‘it’s too technical’, or ‘it takes too much to listen to it’. While some of these statements can be true (at times), the people who say this are really missing the bigger picture. Yes, prog can be very technical at times, but this style of music showcases true musical talent. ZERO HOUR are a band of extremely talented musicians and songwriters, and damn if Chris Salinas doesn’t turn in one of the best vocal performances I've heard in I don’t know how long. Salinas is the band’s third singer now, and hopefully, they’ll be keeping him around for a long, long time. The man is an outstanding talent and is a stellar addition to this amazing band.
One of the best albums of the year!
 
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