It always seems odd to me. How is it possible that there are still traditional heavy metal bands in America? Mostly I get pitched bands from Europe. But in the last three weeks or so, I've had several from my own country. Here's Zero Down from Seattle, you know, the place that gave us grunge which basically killed classic metal and Eighties hard rock.
[spoiler]Yup, these five dudes are knockin' it back old school on their fifth long player, No Limit To The Evil, complete with a creepy Andy Griffith caricture on the cover. The Zeros sound is essentially NWoBHM combined with basic American speed metal. Twin guitars, and leads? Check. Galloping rowdy rhythm section? Check. Vocalist who sounds like a bitch child of ménage à trois between Scott, Halford and Udo? Yup. You can see where I'm going with this. And Zero Down is equally unapologetic about their old school approach. But the band has the riffs, punch, groove, melody, and attitude to pull it off. If you're tired of the pussy modern rock and metal bands that can't find a lead guitar solo under their scarves or dreadlocks, then you're going to love the truckload of sizzling leads found within. Yet the best thing about Zero Down and the many other American bands reaching for this classic heavy metal motif is that simply sounds really, really, good. It sounds fresh and relevant as though thirty years has not passed, and we never went through the eras of hardcore, grunge, nu-metal, post-grunge, metalcore, et al. Best picks: Leche di Tigre, Phantom Host, Two Ton Hammer, Steve McQueen, Return of the Godz. If liked the last from Wretch or Space Vacation, you're going to dig Zero Down's classic NWoBHM influenced heavy/speed metal grooves. Recommended.[/spoiler]
01. Return Of The Godz
02. No Limit To The Evil
03. Devils Thorn
04. Cold Winters Night
05. Leche Di Tigre
06. Phantom Host
07. Suicide Girl
08. Steve McQueen
09. Two Ton Hammer
10. Black Rhino
02. No Limit To The Evil
03. Devils Thorn
04. Cold Winters Night
05. Leche Di Tigre
06. Phantom Host
07. Suicide Girl
08. Steve McQueen
09. Two Ton Hammer
10. Black Rhino
Lenny Burnett – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Matt Fox – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Ron E. Banner – Bass, Vocals
Chris Gohde – Drums
Mark “Hawk” Hawkinson – Lead Vocals & Screams
Password: Plotn08
Deposite
Zero Down – No Limit to the Evil (2014)
 |
