ZeroZonic-God Damn,Better,Best

Ozo Music
2010

ZeroZonic was formed in 2004 by Daniel "Peisy" Olaisen (Blood Red Throne, Scariot, Cobolt 60, Trioxin (Nor), Depths of Catharsis, Satyricon) as a side project. Longing to get his groove on the early line -up included vocalist Roy Egeland (Mayah), drummer Stian Liebich and bassist Ole Vistnes (Autumn Inspiration, Green Carnation, Tristania). Singer Leo Morachiolli(Lowdown) would replace Egeland while drummer Jon Eirik "Elt" Bokn (Dead Trooper) and Martin Berger (bass) would replace Liebich and Vistnes. Their debut album Dead On Arrival was self-released in 2007 (there had also been a 2005 demo). Influenced by bands like Pantera,Chimaira and Metallica the music on God Damn, Better,Best has it's good points and bad points. Good points first though. "Positivenegative" really is cut from the same fabric as Pantera and maybe even Prong. When the band really gets punch drunk mad things are heavy. "Symptoms" is Alice In Chains meets Exhorder. Moments like these make me want to pull out my old C.O.C. and S.O.D. albums and go old school. Great right? Not so fast now for the bad points. Why (oh why) do I hear this god awful "wiggity" Limp Bizkit crap halfway through the song? How can a band emulate both Philip Anselmo and Fred Durst? Don't these things naturally fall at opposite ends of everything that is holy and meaningful? "Humane" would be a stunning killer song if it wasn't loaded down with all the nonsense of nu-metal and hip-hop garbage. "Live Today" features the sounds of cat's in heat. In what would otherwise be a heavy handed "here's your face now meet my boot" moment I'm left with awful images of white boys with their caps on backwards and pants down. It's as if the band tries too hard to appease their inner homeboy instead of realizing that by itself songs like "No Tomorrow" are not half bad (even if a tad generic). "Fake" was a Youtube hit and while it isn't the best at least it keeps the pants somewhat up. "Instrumentalcase" is of course and instrumental number and flows between Pantera and hard rock. It's a good showcase for the band and shows why they don't need these silly studio tricks. "Alcoholic Mayhem" draws the album to a close walking the fine line between nu metal and a Metallica/Panteria hybrid. I think it showcases the albums schizophrenic feeling pretty well. When Mark sent me this promo he mentioned that it was supposed to be Metallica meets Pantera. In those few moments when they don't muck it up this album could very well be that. It has some epic heaviness going for it. I just wish it wasn't ruined by all the Limp Bizkit crap rock. Otherwise this would have been one serious album.