Slave Zero Reviews

Treehouse of Death

http://www.treehouseofdeath.com/?p=426

Our great quest at the Treehouse to find the unknown and unsigned is greatly obliged here, and it all started when I got a package from Ireland in ye ole mailbox. At first I thought “Hmmm I hope this doesn’t mean that the IRA saw my opinion on the last U2 album!” Thankfully, I remembered that the IRA kinda disbanded, and that likely, they weren’t U2 fans because of Bono constantly whining about World peace. No, the package included what would become my latest review, a five song EP from an up and coming group of Irish upstarts called Slave Zero. The EP is called “The Pain Remits” and it is a promising EP that shows a strong band with great passion, but there is a little work needed around the edges to polish their sound.

One thing that could use a little tweaking is the Jamey Jasta sounding vocals of lead singer Graeme Flynn. Upon first listen, you’d actually believe that you were listening to Mr.Jasta, it’s almost that great of an impression. This isn’t necessarily bad because many of us are Hatebreed fans, I’m sure, but it would be nice for Flynn to perhaps find his own voice. To be a little more distinct in his delivery, even though there is a little more variation than you’d find in a Hatebreed album, would be a step up. The lyrics are pretty standard hardcore/metalcore in approach but, to me personally, it never comes off as preachy. Like more honest/straight ahead observers out there, you might find it more of a common truth than a stance on morality. Something that lyrically you might attach to Sepultura or Biohazard.

Musically speaking you might find a few similarities with Hatebreed but you’re also likely to find something akin to Suffocation or Napalm Death. It’s actually a nice mix of Hardcore, Grind, and Death Metal that makes Slave Zero sound interesting. While the first two songs are rather forgettable (“The Pain Remits”,”I Fear For You”) but when you hit track number three, that’s when SZ really shows what they are capable of. “Soul Of Ruin” sounds like something that Suffocation might have written but it has enough of SZ’s own personal touch on it to steer it clear of plagiarizing. Towards the end of the following track “Relief” they show that they can be capable of epic song making to the likes of Nile or Amon Amarth. The last song on the album “Faceless” starts off with a nice lush introduction before putting on a nice ass kicking that sounds like something The Haunted would kill to write, it’s pretty bad ass if I do say so myself and transitions into something that reminds me of early Crowbar. The album ends far better than it begins, and that’s where it’s greatest strength lies.

All in all, I’ve liked what I’ve heard from Slave Zero and if Flynn can add a little more diversity to his vocal approach I think it would give this fine Irish export an added weapon. If they can touch on the elements that make the last fifteen minutes of their EP so awesome, then they could easily be going toe to toe with the very best that metal has to offer. I’ve heard quite a bit of what is coming out these days, and it’s nice to hear something that mixes up enough influences to make something that can be brutal and intelligent all at once. What Slave Zero does from here is up to them, but their debut EP “The Pain Remits” is something that everyone should definitely check out and give a few listens to.

8/10