Release
date: March 2016. Label: Apocalyptic Witchcraft. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
After
Us – Tracklisting
1.Low
Song
2.After
Us
3.Comatose
4.Familiar
Roads
5.Adrift
(Yet Alive)
6.Stage6
7.Summer
Black
8.The
Leftovers
Band
Members:
Dave
- Vocals
Sergente
- Guitar
Stonino
- Bass
Ferico
- Drums
Review:
Italian
Sludge/Stoner Rockers – Zippo – have never played by the rules
through out their musical career. They’ve released three excellent
albums over the years and they’ve managed to create records that
are truly different to each other. Not one Zippo album sounds alike
and that’s a hard thing to do. I’ve seen Zippo classed as Sludge,
Doom, Stoner, Post-Metal, Prog Rock and Psych over the years. It’s
true that Zippo do use those musical elements in their music but
these guys are still very hard to describe.
Their
last album, Maktub – seen Zippo release perhaps their strongest
album to date as they opted for a more Progressive style of
Sludge/Stoner Metal but still with a keen eye on experimentation. Now
five years later, Zippo have returned with their new album – After
Us. It’s perhaps their most straight forward sounding album to date
and that’s not a bad thing. As the band experiment with their sound
for a more direct approach where the riffs and Davide’s vocals are
more refined as a result.
Opening
track – Low Song – has a bass heavy approach with the riffs
becoming slightly louder and trippier with each passing moment. It’s
good to hear Davide performing with Zippo once again after his recent
adventures with his other band Shores Of Null. Davide opts for a more
grizzled approach to his vocals especially when he chants towards the
end of the song. Zippo add cool psychedelic noises with the band
returning to their earlier prog-rock roots.
Second
track – After Us – sees Zippo create an almost Nine Inch Nails
industrial style song with down-tuned industrial riffs and almost
grunge based vocals. Zippo merge Alice In Chains theatrics with a
more modern day Sludge/Stoner feel. I feel that Davide is paying
homage to his heroes of the legendary grunge scene. This is still
undeniably Zippo’s show as they create a bleak Sludge/Stoner and
almost grimy industrial atmosphere.
Third
track – Comatose – carries on the bass heavy/industrial sounds
set against a stunning progressive/psychedelic background with Davide
showing his more tender side. Though it’s the heavy and distorted
riffs that hold your attention especially when the swirling psych
guitars come into play.
Fourth
track – Familiar Roads – is one of the epic tracks on the album
running at almost eight mins in length. It sees Zippo return to the
sounds of their previous albums but with a more progressive
experimental tone. Davide sounds like he’s channelling or singing
from a different dimension. The song has a post-metal feel at times
especially when the music slows right down. It’s quite addictive to
listen to as Zippo add distorted drone based noises. The bass guitar
and drumming is the main standout here as Stonino (Bass) and Ferico
(Drums) create some heavy and hypnotic moments to lose you in.
Fifth
track – Adrift (Yet Alive) is perhaps Zippo’s most
straight-forward Sludge/Stoner Rock song they’ve written to date.
They don’t experiment with their sound as much as they get down in
creating fast-paced riffs with a dark distorted vibe holding things
together. The vocals are a mixture of clean vocals and sinister based
growls which I haven’t heard from Zippo before. It’s an
intriguing style though I wouldn’t want to hear it all the time as
it can be very distracting at times. Davide is angry through out and
that gives him the chance to perform some of the albums best vocals.
The
remaining three songs – Stage 6, Summer Black and The Leftovers –
sees Zippo offer a wild ride in distorted grunge based mayhem with
Prog, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal combining for an exciting
finish. Summer Black deserves a special mention as it’s perhaps my
fave song on the album. It sees Zippo opt for a more experimental
psychedelic approach with cool sounds buried under the heavy
distorted riffs.
As
I said before, After Us is Zippo’s most straight-forward and most
accessible album to date. Though don’t be fooled you’re in for an
easy ride. You’re not!!!
Zippo
like to challenge not only themselves with each album they release
but also the listener as well. After Us demands your full attention
from the start. After Us is Zippo’s finest album to date and I have
a good feeling that this album will end up on a few best albums of
the year list. It’s already grabbed a spot on mine. An incredible
album.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Zippo for the promo. After Us will be available to buy on
CD/DD/Vinyl from Apocalyptic Witchcraft Records from March 2016.
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