Release
date: August 10th
2018. Label: Fuzzdoom
Records.
Format: CD/DD
Nobody
Rides For Free –
Tracklisting
1.Intro
01:08
2.Wandering
04:37
3.Angst
04:09
4.Angst
II (Electric Boogaloo) 06:17
5.Spirit
Elk (Lord of the Hunt) 07:05
6.Touch
of Evil 04:42
7.Keep
on Rockin' in (The Invisible World) 03:20
8.Night
Mysteries 04:30
9.Angst
III (I Don't Want to Die) 08:57
Members
Jeff
Hayward - Vox/Guitars
Breaux
- Drums
Jay
Negro - Vox/Bass
Review
Z/28
is a Fuzzed Up/Stoner Metal Band that also has adds a Classic Hard
Rock/Heavy Metal sound into their music. The band comprises of Grief member Jeff Hayward in their ranks. As Z/28 take influence
from bands such as Kyuss, Fu-Manchu and KISS. Though their debut
album, Nobody Rides For Free, has a lo-fi and dirty sounding
psychedelic garage vibe. This may not be a modern sounding album as
such but the band does have a rather "hip" appeal to their
music.
Opening
track - Intro - is exactly that. A dirty sounding instrumental song
with the band playing heavy loud guitars.
Second
track - Wandering - is when Z/28 start impressing the listener with a
punk based sound with elements of Classic Rock and that familiar
Kyuss Desert/Stoner Rock sound. However Z/28 manages to stand on
their own ideas and passionate riffs. The vocals from Jeff do take
time becoming accustomed to. However that soon passes and all the
member of Z/28 are fully in sync with each other. Doomier riffs
appear every so often.
The
band becomes more comfortable with their musical surroundings and
start being more adventurous with their music. The main focus of the
album is the epic song Angst which is split into three individual
chapters. A mini-concept story buried within other cool songs on the
album. As Z/28 carries on playing their distorted and raw psychedelic
Doom/Stoner Metal sound.
The
three part song - Angst - are perhaps the best part of the album. As
the band play fast and loose with their music and create some of the
heaviest moments on the album. Though the band have included a few
other good songs along the way such as: Spirit Elk (Lord Of The
Hunt), Touch Of Evil, Keep On Rockin In (The Invisible World) and
Night Mysteries. The later stages of the album feels influenced by
The Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath in places as Z/28 add a more
gloomy atmosphere to the music. The vocals from Jeff are still
intense and raw. Though it's the music that holds your attention. As
the music moves from one highlight to the next.
Nobody
Rides For Free is one of those albums that you're not quite sure what
to make of when you first listen to the album. it's only with
subsequent listens that you fully understand everything and begin to
admire the cool creative choices that the band has taken with this
album.
Maybe
it's the progressive psychedelic doomed out riffs or perhaps the
classic sounding Fuzz/Stoner Metal parts that's spliced throughout
the album. That question is hard to answer. Though I can state that
Nobody Rides For Free is an superbly entertaining album that will
appeal to everyone who is a fan of good old-fashioned Rock and Roll.
The
production of the album is handled superbly well. As the whole feel
and sound of the album is constantly engaging from the start. Nobody
Rides For Free is an album that has a lot to say and on this form you
will listen to every word that Z/28 have to say.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Fuzzdoom
Records
for the promo. Nobody
Rides For Free is available to buy
on CD/DD now.