This review is in my webzine, but I wanted to post it here so yu all could see it....
Its seems to be a trend nowadays for progressive metal bands to create concept records. The only problem with this is you have to create music that serves the narrative. There have been many concept releases the past few years that may be interesting lyrically, but musically is all over the map(Dream Theater, are you listening??). To succeed at telling a story, the words and music must work together to properly convey not only the story, but also the atmosphere. Its hard for a prog-metal band to successfully pull this off given the demands of the genre to create incredibly complex compositions. Sometimes the story may call for a simplistic approach. Within the progressive metal idiom, thats career suicide. Zero Hour is one of the best progressive metal bands we have seen on American soil. They arent afraid to throw the stereotypes and clichés out the window. For one, Zero Hour realizes that it is a progressive metal band, and as such the music is suitably heavy. The start/stop off- time rhythm passages will make you dizzy, and the wonderful crunch of the guitar tone will keep many a head banging. Jasun and Troy Tipton perfectly compliment each other, keeping things intense without the typical need to show off. Their playing serves the mood of the song, and given that this is a concept piece it helps to convey the story that much better. Drummer Mike Guy could give Mark Zonder a run for his money. The old eight-arm drummer joke applies here, as he is all over the kit. The songs are lengthy, but with the musicianship on display, you never even notice; the 15 minute Demise And Vestige feels five minutes long. The biggest surprise are the vocals. Eric Rosvold has a unique, mid range voice that is eerily effective in the more dramatic moments and incredibly powerful when things start getting heavy. Keyboards are kept to an absolute minimum in order to maintain the man versus machine atmosphere that the story describes. When I think of all the typical elements that comprise prog-metal, dominating keyboards, endless soloing, high pitched annoying singer, Zero Hour employs none of them. Because of this ability to be original, the listener does not know what to expect. Zero Hour should be applauded for breathing life into the progressive metal genre. If you havent got The Towers Of Avarice get it now!
-rhavin2112
Its seems to be a trend nowadays for progressive metal bands to create concept records. The only problem with this is you have to create music that serves the narrative. There have been many concept releases the past few years that may be interesting lyrically, but musically is all over the map(Dream Theater, are you listening??). To succeed at telling a story, the words and music must work together to properly convey not only the story, but also the atmosphere. Its hard for a prog-metal band to successfully pull this off given the demands of the genre to create incredibly complex compositions. Sometimes the story may call for a simplistic approach. Within the progressive metal idiom, thats career suicide. Zero Hour is one of the best progressive metal bands we have seen on American soil. They arent afraid to throw the stereotypes and clichés out the window. For one, Zero Hour realizes that it is a progressive metal band, and as such the music is suitably heavy. The start/stop off- time rhythm passages will make you dizzy, and the wonderful crunch of the guitar tone will keep many a head banging. Jasun and Troy Tipton perfectly compliment each other, keeping things intense without the typical need to show off. Their playing serves the mood of the song, and given that this is a concept piece it helps to convey the story that much better. Drummer Mike Guy could give Mark Zonder a run for his money. The old eight-arm drummer joke applies here, as he is all over the kit. The songs are lengthy, but with the musicianship on display, you never even notice; the 15 minute Demise And Vestige feels five minutes long. The biggest surprise are the vocals. Eric Rosvold has a unique, mid range voice that is eerily effective in the more dramatic moments and incredibly powerful when things start getting heavy. Keyboards are kept to an absolute minimum in order to maintain the man versus machine atmosphere that the story describes. When I think of all the typical elements that comprise prog-metal, dominating keyboards, endless soloing, high pitched annoying singer, Zero Hour employs none of them. Because of this ability to be original, the listener does not know what to expect. Zero Hour should be applauded for breathing life into the progressive metal genre. If you havent got The Towers Of Avarice get it now!
-rhavin2112
