Short Reviews [Zevious - 2018 - "Lowlands"]

Since forming in 2007, Mike Eber (Smother Party), Jeff Eber (Dysrhythmia), and Johnny DeBlase (Sabbath Assembly, Many Arms) have sought to blur the lines between prog, jazz, and metal as Zevious. The band released their self-titled debut in 2008 which featured a more traditional acoustic sound and hinted at the compositional style the band was beginning to develop. Soon after, the band caught the attention of Cuneiform Records and released ‘After The Air Raid’ in 2009, abandoning the traditional sound of their first record for a more power-trio style involving louder volumes with a leaning toward melodic/polymetric compositions. The subsequent years marked a period of frequent touring and musical development for the band. In 2013 they released their second record for Cuneiform, ‘Passing Through The Wall’, which is where I first came across them, saying that they wouldn’t know what to do with “a straight 4/4 time signature and verse/chorus number if it hit them over the head with a baseball bat.” Well, nothing has changed, although since Cuneiform are no longer really releasing albums (still can’t believe that a label as influential as they have had to drastically change their business model to survive), they have now moved on and for their latest album are signed with Nefarious Industries. The instrumental trio are still pushing that garage, metal, new wave underground mentality, but bringing that into line with fusion, jazz, RIO, doom, post rock and even trance to create something that is incredibly intense and powerful. It is as subtle as a sledgehammer, and really can cause headaches, but is also melodramatic and alluring. It is music which is compelling, bringing the listener in, shutting the door, and then bombarding them with sounds that feel almost as if they are part of a waterboarding experiment, yet even though the door is unlocked there is no desire to walk back out again. This isn’t easy music to listen to, but by giving it the time it deserves the listener comes away having had an amazing experience.