Zuul FX - By The Cross
Equilibre Music - EM 004 - 2005
By Philip Whitehouse
The French metal scene has been throwing out some great acts over the years, with the last two years or so in particular seeing an upsurge in the number of worthy bands spilling from the land of garlic and onions. So, are industrialised metallers Zuul FX another band to add to that particular canon, or should we be saying 'non'?
Well, that depends on how you look at it. Streamlined to the point of being compositionally threadbare, Zuul FX are about as far removed from the current crazes of technicality and instrumental melodicism as you can get - the opening track steams along with an infuriated momentum all of its own, powered by about four riffs and a really dirty, growling guitar tone, while the third track is focused around an insistent mosh-groove rhythm and pummelling riffage before dropping to a languid, clean-vocalled chorus with melodic backing vocals and a more sentimental core.
So far, so-so, it seems... But further investigation reveals more layers than simple adrenalised aggression alternated with plaintive refrains. Throughout the album, background effects, synths and vocals are utilised in much the same way that Fear Factory did to give added depth to the arrangements, and occasional production tricks (like the background phasing of the guitar tracks in 'Nothing Is Real''s mosh-section) add further interest to the generally simplistic arrangements. 'God Bless Them' actually manages to sound like it would fit fairly comfortably on FF's Demanufacture, while 'Cabal' initially reveals something of a Static X influence before seamlessly segueing into a chorus that brings to mind Type O Negative covering The Sisters Of Mercy.
So, what at first appears to be a simplistic outpouring of attention-grabbing aggression reveals layers of subtlety on further investigation. The minimalistic arrangements are immediately satisfying, and there are some monstrous riffs and grooves to be found. Some of the more contemporary (alright, let's say it, nu metal) influences may put some off, but Zuul FX have bags more aggression than your average keychain clad crew, and the nous to write compositionally simplistic songs not as a result of lack of talent, but more of an ability to refrain from over-egging the pudding. Worth a look.
7/10
Official Zuul FX Website
Official Equilibre Music Website
Equilibre Music - EM 004 - 2005
By Philip Whitehouse
The French metal scene has been throwing out some great acts over the years, with the last two years or so in particular seeing an upsurge in the number of worthy bands spilling from the land of garlic and onions. So, are industrialised metallers Zuul FX another band to add to that particular canon, or should we be saying 'non'?
Well, that depends on how you look at it. Streamlined to the point of being compositionally threadbare, Zuul FX are about as far removed from the current crazes of technicality and instrumental melodicism as you can get - the opening track steams along with an infuriated momentum all of its own, powered by about four riffs and a really dirty, growling guitar tone, while the third track is focused around an insistent mosh-groove rhythm and pummelling riffage before dropping to a languid, clean-vocalled chorus with melodic backing vocals and a more sentimental core.
So far, so-so, it seems... But further investigation reveals more layers than simple adrenalised aggression alternated with plaintive refrains. Throughout the album, background effects, synths and vocals are utilised in much the same way that Fear Factory did to give added depth to the arrangements, and occasional production tricks (like the background phasing of the guitar tracks in 'Nothing Is Real''s mosh-section) add further interest to the generally simplistic arrangements. 'God Bless Them' actually manages to sound like it would fit fairly comfortably on FF's Demanufacture, while 'Cabal' initially reveals something of a Static X influence before seamlessly segueing into a chorus that brings to mind Type O Negative covering The Sisters Of Mercy.
So, what at first appears to be a simplistic outpouring of attention-grabbing aggression reveals layers of subtlety on further investigation. The minimalistic arrangements are immediately satisfying, and there are some monstrous riffs and grooves to be found. Some of the more contemporary (alright, let's say it, nu metal) influences may put some off, but Zuul FX have bags more aggression than your average keychain clad crew, and the nous to write compositionally simplistic songs not as a result of lack of talent, but more of an ability to refrain from over-egging the pudding. Worth a look.
7/10
Official Zuul FX Website
Official Equilibre Music Website
