Saturday 20 August 2016

ZED - Trouble In Eden (Album Review)


Release date: August 26th 2016. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Trouble In Eden – Tracklisting

1.Royale
2.Save You From Yourself
3.The Only True Thing
4.Today Not Tomorrow
5.Trouble In Eden
6.Blood Of The Fallen
7.High Indeed
8.So Low
9.Across The Sea
10.The Mountain

Band Members:

Pete Sattari- Guitar/Vox
Rich Harris - Drums
Greg Lopez - Guitar
Mark Aceves - Bass

Review:

San Jose hard-rocking outfit – Zed return with their third album – Trouble In Eden. Newly signed to Ripple Music. Yeah, those guys again. Ripple Music are everywhere at the moment as they're probably the go-to label for signing top-notch quality Doom/Stoner Rock bands at the moment. And Zed is no different...

Trouble In Eden sees Zed bring a more psychedelic flair to their music. They still maintain their usual trademark Blues/Stoner/Hard Rock sound though this time the volume has definitely been turned upto 11.

Opening track, Royale is a thumping number where the guitars are played to maximum effect and lead vocalist Pete on fine confident form. It's a more hard rock/stoner rock vibe compared to previous songs they've released in the past. It's a winning start with the band showing a real passion for groovy riffs and great lyrics to match.

Second track, Save You From Yourself sounds like Zed of old with a vibrant Blues Rock backdrop giving way to a harder Stoner Rock vibe. It has quite a funk driven sound which is very cool to hear. The band have experimented with their sound compared to Desperation Blues and this song shows you how far Zed have come over the last few years.

I'm not going to spend a huge time going through all of the songs on Trouble In Eden as I'll be here all day. All I will say is that Zed have written a collection of great tracks that will appeal to both old and new fans of the band. They have all bases covered with a stunning array of songs that will appeal to both fans of the Hard Rock/Stoner Rock spectrum. Zed include many different moments of Psych, Blues, Grunge, Stoner and Hard Rock that will make you join their musical revolution in causing Trouble In Eden itself.

Other great tracks to check out are: The Only True Thing, Trouble In Eden, High Indeed and The Mountain. All songs showing how Zed have become a better and more exciting band since Desperation Blues. Zed needed to deliver a BIG ALBUM for Ripple Music. In my mind they have delivered on all counts as Trouble In Eden is an album that offers the listener 10 tracks of pure hard rock fury.

Trouble In Eden is perhaps the first step in Zed's career to launch themselves on an international scale. If they build upon the huge sound contained here we could be singing Zed's praises for a long time to come. I hope the world is listening as Zed is ready to raise some HELL!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Trouble In Eden will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from August 26th 2016.

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