Track Listing
1. Last September 2. Think you know 3. Filth Year: 2002 Label: Self Released - Official Site |
Zero Cipher - '45rpm' - By C. Impey
Zero Cipher are an exciting "new" British band, creating dark and heavy hardkore music. This is their second release, a follow up to their 2001 demo "Zero Cipher", which I haven't heard but after listening to this short selection of songs I'll soon have the debut downloaded from their website. The general sound created by Zero Cipher is heavy and furious, the lyrics generally being screamed out by Duncan Williams, and then at times going all mellow and calm resembling a dark, Emo vocal style. The thing that makes Zero Cipher different is their use of samples, DJ ForceX applies his skills on the decks extrememly well, in a kind of nu-metal style that fits brilliantly into every song, not sounding out of place as you may expect. "Last September" opens with frantic scratching on the decks, with a guitar and drums backing, before Zero Cipher break out the vocals, starting in a scream progressing to the melodic and relatively calm chorus. The song has a simple structure but works brilliantly. "Last September" bleeds into "Think You Know" without any silence between the 2 songs, just how it should be, it keeps you listening. This song sounds slightly overdone, possibly slightly too complex with 2/3 different vocals going on at the same time, but I'm finding it impossible to fault Zero Cipher's music, and the chorus's sound brilliant. Inbetween "Think You Know" and "Filth" you can hear crackling sounds hinting low quality production but this isn't really anything to stop you from enjoying these songs as it's impossible to hear during any of the songs. It's also forgivable because they are after all an unsigned band. This song contains a different style of vocals at the beginning, breaking into the 'normal' screams and shouts, and into the melodic chorus as 'usual'. There are also well placed sound bites featured on this song. Overall this is a brilliant CD, Zero Cipher should go very far. Having already toured with the best of the UK underground bands, and featured on Metal Hammer's "Class of 2002" they look set to become something big. Metal Obsessive Grade: 95% |