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Old April 15th, 2008, 01:03 PM   #1 (permalink)
ZHJ&T
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Our first Review for DARK DECEIVER!!!

http://www.seaoftranquility.org/revi...ontent&id=6320

Zero Hour: Dark Deceiver
If the metal world getting bashed over the head with the latest powerhouse from Meshuggah wasn't enough, technical prog-metallers Zero Hour are about ready to finish the job and leave us all obliterated into a pile of ash with their new CD Dark Deceiver. This band has consistently delivered top notch stuff, and their last release Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond in 2006 was considered one of the top albums of the year here at Sea of Tranquility. Well, Dark Deceiver ups the ante considerably my friends, both in terms of complexity and heaviness. Opening track "Power to Believe" might just be the most crushing piece this band has ever recorded, filled with brutal guitar riffs from Jasun Tipton and the always elastic jazz-fusion bass lines from brother Troy. Former Power of Omens singer Chris Salinas is back for his second album with the band, and he sounds right at home here, even getting in some nasty growls on this killer of an opening cut.
From there the band steamrolls into the title track, another dark and intricate burner, drummer Mike Guy all over the map with an array of complex fills and heavy backbeats while the Tipton brothers weave one jaw dropping passage after another. "Inner Spirit" kicks off with some slamming drum work and dizzying unison guitar/bass melodies (hold on tight folks, this is one intense ride!) before Salinas comes into the fray with some effects laden, almost Sci-Fi sounding vocals. Jasun's guitar work on this shred-fest is monstrous, his acrobatic sweep picking flying about the mix on top of brutal machine gun rhythms. It's not all about intense riff-o-rama, as the middle section features some haunting atmosphere and mysterious & passionate vocals from Salinas. From there the band launches into the sick prog-metal feast that is "Resurrection", where they combine sumptuous melodies with weaving instrumental passages that are as complex as anything you will hear in the genre. Imagine classic Fates Warning but with the complexity kicked up quite a few notches and that's kind of what you get on this one.
Troy shows off his amazing bass technique on the short instrumental "Tendonitis" (wow...that's all I can say), and "The Temple Within" is a down and dirty rocker featuring some crunchy riffs, wild drum work, and Salinas reaching for the heavens with his soaring high pitched metal wail. The guys return to manic machine gun styled riffs & rhythms on "Lies" (complete with an amazing Geoff Tate-ish vocal performance from Salinas), and take things one step further with "The Passion of Words", an ultra-heavy, ultra-complex howitzer that is guaranteed to knock any metal fan completely on his/her ass. Closing number "Severed Angel" sees the band going from quiet passages to out and out bombast, a short instrumental that sort of ends the CD abruptly but forces you to hit PLAY and start it all over again.
Quite frankly, I was hoping for something truly ass kicking from Zero Hour but this was even better than I expected. Dark Deceiver is mind-numbingly heavy, astonishingly complex, and ultimately the most powerful release this band has recorded to date. Play this and Meshuggah's obZen back to back and you have two of the most pummeling technical metal releases that will be released this year. Zero Hour deserves to play with the big boys, so let's see them on some sort of full-scale tour so the metal masses can experience this indestructible machine in person.
Highly, highly recommended!

Track Listing
  1. Power to Believe
  2. Dark Deceiver
  3. Inner Spirit
  4. Resurrection
  5. Tendonitis
  6. The Temple Within
  7. Lies
  8. The Passion of Words
  9. Severed Angel
Added: April 14th 2008
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Zero Hour Website
Hits: 78
Language: english
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Old April 15th, 2008, 02:39 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Great review! BTW, the anticipation is killing me!! Can't wait to see the cd in my mailbox.
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Old April 15th, 2008, 02:52 PM   #3 (permalink)
Kenneth R.
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wahoo, can't wait till it gets here
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Old April 15th, 2008, 04:47 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Sweet!!!
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Old April 15th, 2008, 04:57 PM   #5 (permalink)
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I didn't find any other reviews so I'm wondering whether this reviewer had a promo or whether he purchased it?
I'll buy it regardless but a promo would speed up me writing a review.
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Old April 15th, 2008, 09:19 PM   #6 (permalink)
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This is a good question as I've been told from a couple people they actually saw the CD in stores and bought it. I don't know if distribution maybe made some mix ups. I know in Ca I haven't seen any. Ken will start shipping pre-orders for the disc later this week so that's a good question

Thanks everyone and looking forward to everyones thoughts.

Jasun
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Old April 15th, 2008, 11:57 PM   #7 (permalink)
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don't know what the German promo department is all about, but I haven't heard anything yet...
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Old April 16th, 2008, 08:28 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Sensory is no longer using True Music for PR in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Alive is now doing the PR in Germany. I need to get the info off Sensory.

METAL MY BRO!!

Jasun
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Old April 17th, 2008, 06:13 AM   #9 (permalink)
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that explains it, as I am not on the list of Alive.
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Old April 17th, 2008, 08:59 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Is Intromental still doing Sensory stuff in Europe?
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Old April 17th, 2008, 10:04 AM   #11 (permalink)
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sounds really great I know this album will just kill
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Old April 18th, 2008, 01:16 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Can't wait to get this cd!!!
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Old April 18th, 2008, 02:39 PM   #13 (permalink)
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This cd DOES kill xD. Everything about it is brilliant, even the final track, which is extremely odd, but seems to instill a feeling of .. darkness? It fits perfectly. I still can't believe I got the cd in the mail so early, they must've really screwed something up. I'm gonna be listening to this album for a loong time.
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Old April 18th, 2008, 02:43 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfpup View Post
This cd DOES kill xD. Everything about it is brilliant, even the final track, which is extremely odd, but seems to instill a feeling of .. darkness? It fits perfectly. I still can't believe I got the cd in the mail so early, they must've really screwed something up. I'm gonna be listening to this album for a loong time.
Did you pre-order the CD from Laser's Edge? They had said they would ship them out before the release date to those that pre-ordered. I got an email saying it was shipped on Wednesday afternoon. Hope to have mine today or tomorrow.
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Old April 18th, 2008, 04:12 PM   #15 (permalink)
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That's great you received it so quick. I think everyone will get it in the next couple days if they got it off www.lasercd.com

So happy you dig the disc surfpup and hope everyone gets it soon.

Jasun
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Old April 18th, 2008, 06:35 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Can't wait to get mine! Probably a couple more days...
And My SHIRT!
Are you guys gonna have Booble Head Dolls! I want one each of all y'alls!
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Old April 18th, 2008, 06:53 PM   #17 (permalink)
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amazing.

I'll write up a review as soon as mine gets here, probably tomorrow!
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Old April 18th, 2008, 09:08 PM   #18 (permalink)
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i cant wait to hear this, ordered a copy this morning!!


Bob "Buddah"
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Old April 19th, 2008, 03:52 AM   #19 (permalink)
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wow, killer review, now I want this release so bad!!! Specs and Towers SHOULD be arriving in the next couple of days *crosses fingers* and then it'll be Dark Deceiver in with very next order...
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Old April 19th, 2008, 01:29 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Great review. I got my copy from Laser's Edge this week. The new album ... smokes! ZH keeps getting better and better. I will post a review when I get a free moment from spinning it ... again and again and again.
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Old April 19th, 2008, 02:12 PM   #21 (permalink)
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wow, killer review, now I want this release so bad!!! Specs and Towers SHOULD be arriving in the next couple of days *crosses fingers* and then it'll be Dark Deceiver in with very next order...
Dude, you just bought the best 2 albums!
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Old April 19th, 2008, 06:01 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Great review. I got my copy from Laser's Edge this week. The new album ... smokes! ZH keeps getting better and better. I will post a review when I get a free moment from spinning it ... again and again and again.
I also got mine today. LOVE IT!
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Old April 19th, 2008, 06:17 PM   #23 (permalink)
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Right on and I'm happy to hear people are starting to receive it and very pleased to hear the positive response on DD.

Yes Intromental handles ZH in Scandinavia.

I just got back from the distribution party of Big Daddy in NY. Very cool people we're distributed by in the USA by and was great to meet everyone.

Brett your shirt will be your way Tuesday man and thanks so much bro. You basically have every ZH shirt.....YOU SO RULE MAN!!

I'm in NY and I saw Dark Deceiver today in Virgin Mega store. I guess there was a mix up but cool to see it there already.

Hope I answered everyone and talk to you all soon.

Jay
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Old April 19th, 2008, 08:37 PM   #24 (permalink)
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You're in NY? Man, if you were in Syracuse that'd be my town!

Review coming up---- impressions on first listen, post this anywhere/everywhere and/or do what you want with it!

1. The Power To Believe
As soon as you hit play, you're under sonic attack: Zero Hour hits you with a showcase of why they're still ahead of everyone else in the genre. While other bands just rehash riffs and use the same old themes and schema, ZH reinvents themselves each album, but still manages to express their unique iconic style. Sweeping guitar, rhythmic and somehow conscious percussion, blistering bass, soaring vocals - there really is no "background" here. It's all up front, nobody buried in the mix, nobody not pulling their weight. The entire band has incredible skill and the more important skill of knowing how and when to use it to create landscapes of sound that don't disappoint. The Power To Believe is no exception, this is a headbanging slamfest of sound.
2. Dark Deceiver
picks up the baton and keeps slaying. The lofty vocal passages are strong and contrast with the deep sort of chanting. There's a section here just before 1:30 where Mikey rolls off some inhuman chops on the drumkit. Then the pace slows and you get a peaceful interlude, ending immediately in a lightspeed guitar solo by Jasun and Troy. The sound is tight and punchy. Like their last album Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond, ZH and Dino Alden did an excellent job once again.
3. Inner Spirit.
At 12 minutes, this is the longest track on the album. Fans of Towers of Avarice might expect something to rival Demise & Vestige. They won't be left wanting. It destroys with a maelstrom of sound and technical mastery. At about 6 minutes, the pace slows and Chris calmly sings confidently a catchy melody. The guy can do soaring screams, deep snarls, and this crystal clear mid range. He's incredible. Another reviewer compared this section to Geoff Tate. I definitely hear what he was talking about, except this would rival Tate back in the 80s, and best him! I also hear tones reminiscent of Devon Graves, of Dead Soul Tribe. Zero Hour has in Chris the final piece to their exposition of the ultra-talented.
4. Resurrection
begins with some incredible bass beneath Jasun's trademark sweeps and Mikey's machinegun drums. At about 30 seconds, the band breaks into a melodic riff that builds and fades like an ocean tide. Lots of energy and a sense of movement, of being pulled forward. Chris roars.
5. Tendonitis.
This insturmental bass solo is a bitchslap in the face of Troy's tendonitis. Injury, take that! You'll have to stop the album, hit "replay" and hear it again before continuing. And then pause before track 6 so you can pick up your jaw or your bass in awe.
6. The Temple Within.
The first time I heard this was in New York City over a year ago. Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond had just come out, and some fans were worried about the future of Zero Hour. To bury any worry in the ground, and show off their new vocalist Chris Salinas, during the set they announced and played a song from the then upcoming and unnamed 5th album - The Temple Within. I was incredibly impressed. Not only did the song totally rip, but the band, who had not yet had the time to play it as many times as say, something off Towers or Metamorphosis, sounded expertly tight. Here it was a live song, with studio quality performance, and brilliant song writing. After the show, the song I wanted to hear again was this one! Troy's bass rolls on and on as if his endurance is unending, Jasun lays down epic riff after epic riff, Mike knows just what drums and cymbals to play to not just be "that drummer guy" that could be substituted for a machine. He brings a soul to his style that makes him a melodic contributor that's essential to ZH's sound. On The Temple Within, his cymbal 16th notes help make the song what it is- awesome.
7. Lies
Again Chris shows Geoff Tate how to sing. About half way through the song, they fade the mix out of the whole band except Chris, who darkly whispers... and then it crashes back in. The harmony vocals, reminiscent of a sort of metal version of Gregorian chant, are proof that ZH isn't afraid to try unconventional means to express themselves. And that's what makes them actually progressive, while other bands just claim to be or write a song in 7/4 for no reason.
8. The Passion of Words
The passion is evident. There is such a force behind the music here, and especially in the vocals. "I'll give you heaven!!" At around 2:30, again the band drops out for a moment while Chris calmly speaks, and then.... ZH fans will remember the epic moment on the Towers of Avarice album "I was still not the tiiiiiide". This is that moment for Dark Deceiver. And just as impressive. "You're falling, you're falling!"
9. Severed Angel
Silence. Fading in, the band sounds like a warzone. It gets louder and more frequent, like bomb blasts, with the near quiet ambient sound of intense technicality. Lots of reverb. Like an empty cathedral during a metal sound check. And then jam. Jam and fade, back to ambient, only to be assaulted again! Immediately asks to go back to track 1 and listen again! Dino's back up vocals on the album are as great as his production abilities.

5/5
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Last edited by Kenneth R. : April 19th, 2008 at 08:44 PM.
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Old April 19th, 2008, 09:17 PM   #25 (permalink)
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Kenneth.....SO METAL to take the time out to write this review so quick my bro. I thank you so much for taking the time out to do this as a review like this will help so much.

More than anything I'm just so happy that YOU dig it man. As a listener of ZH from the beginning and has the whole catalog. I'm just so happy the CD is speaking to you my bro.

I have to give a HUGE shout out to DINO ALDEN who just made this CD happen. His hard work and talent is what it's all about. This wasn't a easy CD, a lot of hard work was put into it and Dino you're the BEST man.

Thank you so much again Kenneth and everyone for picking it up.

Jasun
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