ZERO HOUR „“Dark Deceiver””

Music: Progressive
Country: USA
Web site: www.zerohourweb.com
Cool Songs: Power to Believe, Tendonitis, The Passion of Words

Northern California-based ZERO HOUR have proved their selves to be one of the more intriguing bands in the progressive metal fold. They take standard conventions of progressive music—complex timing, high pitch vocals and sweeping scales—and shoot them with a heavy dose of anabolic steroids. “Dark Deceiver,” their sixth studio album, combines features from the many branches of technical music. They mix the speed and violent instrumentation expressed in progressive death with the off kilter, repeated notes of MESHUGGAH, while sticking to prog’s roots with powerful, high-reaching vocals.

The gathering of many technical styles seems to empower much of the weaknesses that some of the lesser bands of this style suffer. Gear geeks and guitar nerds will certainly marvel at the intricate string work and bewildering time patterns. Twin brothers, guitarist Jasun Tipton and Bassist Troy Tipton have this chemistry which creates impeccable timing.

Each complex rhythm may prove hard to follow, but most often they repeat these rhythms, so the confusion eventually becomes revelation. The group changes their patterns enough to keep the repetition from stagnating. Most importantly, they manage to accomplish a high degree of shred while cementing their stance in the foundation of extreme metal.

“Power to Believe,” opens the album in a telling way. ZERO HOUR runs a clinic on how to make technical metal on this track. The main rhythms fall into repetitive, off timed patterns, performed by a band with members who seemingly following a separate conductor, yet the whirl wind of algebraic scales displayed by each member are somehow connected. It is easy to zone out on this rhythm, yet Troy Tipton’s swift bass line breaks the pattern, which may induce jolting, body spasms.

ZERO HOUR does not rely on a certain player to carry the band, and the mix reflects each member’s exceptional talent. The mix plays a role in helping each instrument ring clearly, but so does their off key notes during many of the verses. Every member is blessed with a ridiculous amount of a talent, but Troy Tipton’s bass licks are a definitive characteristic of the band’s sound, which is paramount to a band greatly influenced by CYNIC (their MySpace lists CYNIC as their sole influence).

Like a hummingbird flapping its wings, Tipton’s fingers move with such speed they bring a humming sound to his instrument. Tipton gets the spotlight in the aptly-titled “Tendonitis.” The rapid scales his fingers navigate on this instrumental bring to mind MANOWAR’s Joey DeMaio performing “Sting of the Bumblebee.”

“Dark Deceiver” should be a favorite listen for many of the prog fans. When every member of a band displays the technical magic of ZERO HOUR, one can only assume this band will appeal to students of technical music. ZERO HOUR’s heavy brand should bring in a few fans outside of the prog circle. ZERO HOUR is definitely a band to watch.

note: 8/10

Tracklist

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
Total playing time 44:43

Line-up

Chris Salinas – Vocals
Jasun Tipton – Guitar and Keyboards
Troy Tipton – Bass
Mike Guy – Drums