Zatokrev - Bury the Ashes
Firebox - Firecd044 - 19th March 2007
By Paddy Walsh
Having been lucky enough to appear amidst the sudden explosion in popularity of sludgy, Neurosis-influenced and Isis-schooled post-metal a few years ago, Austria's Zatokrev gained numerous plaudits with their self-titled debut in 2004. Bury the Ashes follows a very similar template to its predecessor, playing at times like a tribute to Times of Grace era Neurosis rather than going for lengthy spaceout sessions a la Isis or Pelican. Indeed, guitarist/vocalist Frederk Rotter's screams are disturbingly similar to Scott Kelly at times, and drummer Silvio Spadino seems intent on aping the thunderous tribalisms of - you guessed it - mid-period Neurosis. So if you're looking for the latest innovations to penetrate the metal spectrum then Zatokrev are definitely not for you. If, on the other hand, you're a total sucker for the kind of thing just described, and felt that Neurosis went too soft years ago, then Bury the Ashes might just be for you.
Zatokrev are adept at their craft, and there are plenty of moments of near-excellence to be found throughout Bury the Ashes. Opener 'Bury the Ashes' encompasses Zatokrev's many facets, their Neurosis fetish in full swing with massive riffs aplenty and savage drumming, whilst 'Trial' trundles along with much aplomb too. The main problem with this release is that, with their sound rather rigidly based upon a few classic albums by a band who have since moved on to pastures anew, it sometimes feels like Bury the Ashes is simply an inferior version of Times of Grace or Through Silver in Blood. Certainly, Zatokrev have succeeded in capturing a blisteringly heavy, doomy sound that it mostly engaging, but they lack Neurosis' ability to offset the heaviness with that wonderful ethereal feeling of wonderment that has made them so widely appealing. Bury the Ashes is at times suffocating in its relentless pummell, but there at times when a little subtlety wouldn't have gone amiss. 'Godless' hints at such a move, slowing things down to a crawl and allowing some almost mellow moments to creep in, but Zatokrev are not a band with subtlety on the agenda. With the success of their debut, it seemed as though Zatokrev might spread their wings a bit and try to break out of the Neurosis-alike tag that was flung their way, but Bury the Ashes unfortunately does little to change that. It's a well-executed example of a metal sub-genre that has become somewhat hackneyed recently, but it's inessential to passing fans who already own the best chunks of Neurosis' and Isis' discography (i.e. everything they've done).
Official Zatokrev Website
Official Firebox Website
Firebox - Firecd044 - 19th March 2007
By Paddy Walsh
Having been lucky enough to appear amidst the sudden explosion in popularity of sludgy, Neurosis-influenced and Isis-schooled post-metal a few years ago, Austria's Zatokrev gained numerous plaudits with their self-titled debut in 2004. Bury the Ashes follows a very similar template to its predecessor, playing at times like a tribute to Times of Grace era Neurosis rather than going for lengthy spaceout sessions a la Isis or Pelican. Indeed, guitarist/vocalist Frederk Rotter's screams are disturbingly similar to Scott Kelly at times, and drummer Silvio Spadino seems intent on aping the thunderous tribalisms of - you guessed it - mid-period Neurosis. So if you're looking for the latest innovations to penetrate the metal spectrum then Zatokrev are definitely not for you. If, on the other hand, you're a total sucker for the kind of thing just described, and felt that Neurosis went too soft years ago, then Bury the Ashes might just be for you.
Zatokrev are adept at their craft, and there are plenty of moments of near-excellence to be found throughout Bury the Ashes. Opener 'Bury the Ashes' encompasses Zatokrev's many facets, their Neurosis fetish in full swing with massive riffs aplenty and savage drumming, whilst 'Trial' trundles along with much aplomb too. The main problem with this release is that, with their sound rather rigidly based upon a few classic albums by a band who have since moved on to pastures anew, it sometimes feels like Bury the Ashes is simply an inferior version of Times of Grace or Through Silver in Blood. Certainly, Zatokrev have succeeded in capturing a blisteringly heavy, doomy sound that it mostly engaging, but they lack Neurosis' ability to offset the heaviness with that wonderful ethereal feeling of wonderment that has made them so widely appealing. Bury the Ashes is at times suffocating in its relentless pummell, but there at times when a little subtlety wouldn't have gone amiss. 'Godless' hints at such a move, slowing things down to a crawl and allowing some almost mellow moments to creep in, but Zatokrev are not a band with subtlety on the agenda. With the success of their debut, it seemed as though Zatokrev might spread their wings a bit and try to break out of the Neurosis-alike tag that was flung their way, but Bury the Ashes unfortunately does little to change that. It's a well-executed example of a metal sub-genre that has become somewhat hackneyed recently, but it's inessential to passing fans who already own the best chunks of Neurosis' and Isis' discography (i.e. everything they've done).
Official Zatokrev Website
Official Firebox Website
