Zoltar Speaks
Garry from SAN PR is always putting us on to excellent new bands, so when he dropped us a line about a new female fronted band who have been compared to the likes of Skunk Anansie, Protest The Hero and Coheed and Cambria, I was looking forward to seeing what was on offer. Zoltar Speaks are due to release their debut EP, Treatment, on 11th June, so we thought we’d better check them out to see what we thought!
The intricate lead line which opens A Metaphor certainly seems to suggest good things, launching us into a sludgy realm of dark distorted sounds, hammering drums and all out power. The female vocals which soon take the lead aren’t your conventional vocals, these are hardened gravelly vocals, evoking thoughts back to the likes of Skunk Anansie and similar, but blowing this comparison out of the water with the music. Intricate guitar lines, hammering riffs, solid drumming and a bass heavy rhythm section, this is the sort of track which is going to leave you wanting more, unsure of how they’ve managed to grab you the way they have but knowing it’s all good. Catchy and powerful throughout, for a debut EP this is a massive sound and one which I’m looking forward to hearing more of!
Following on with How Could You Blame, the approach continues to blast guitars and rolling drums out at you whilst the vocals deal with the story telling. Powerful once again, there’s a real sense of syncopation throughout this track, largely down to the guitar work which is quite frankly excellent. What really stands out to me about this track is the sheer volume, it’s a massive sound which the band have achieved, suggesting that this is going to be one hell of a loud live band, and one to make sure you check out! The Best Revenge almost comes as a shock then when the soft opening greets us, but worry not, it’s only for a moment. Once again launching us into a melee of hammering guitar lines and pounding drum lines, this is a seriously accomplished track which punches well above their weight. Catchy, disjointed (in a good way) and powerful from the word go, this track stands as further demonstration as to why you need to see this band on the live scene, they’ve got a sound which is impossible to resist.
Closing with Treatment the mood is once again switched, this time reverting to a softer and more emotional outlook than earlier tracks. Melodic and emotionally laden from the off, this track may well present us with a change in the bands approach but it’s one which they pull of with aplomb for sure. The softness soon moves back into the realms of heavy yet still keeps the sense of melody at the forefront of the sound, making it impossible not to simply listen to what’s going on, questioning how on earth they can craft a sound which is so enthralling. As the track comes to a close after a blistering guitar solo, it seems the EP comes to a close all too soon, but leaves you wanting more from this tightly knit unit.
Zoltar Speaks have cracked it with this EP, producing a sound which comes across as fresh and new in a market where there are too many bands simply following convention. Their sound doesn’t follow these conventions, instead carving its own path through music and inviting everyone along for the ride to join them. One question is raised for me – if this is just their EP, what have they still got to come next?!
To find out more about Zoltar Speaks, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
The intricate lead line which opens A Metaphor certainly seems to suggest good things, launching us into a sludgy realm of dark distorted sounds, hammering drums and all out power. The female vocals which soon take the lead aren’t your conventional vocals, these are hardened gravelly vocals, evoking thoughts back to the likes of Skunk Anansie and similar, but blowing this comparison out of the water with the music. Intricate guitar lines, hammering riffs, solid drumming and a bass heavy rhythm section, this is the sort of track which is going to leave you wanting more, unsure of how they’ve managed to grab you the way they have but knowing it’s all good. Catchy and powerful throughout, for a debut EP this is a massive sound and one which I’m looking forward to hearing more of!
Following on with How Could You Blame, the approach continues to blast guitars and rolling drums out at you whilst the vocals deal with the story telling. Powerful once again, there’s a real sense of syncopation throughout this track, largely down to the guitar work which is quite frankly excellent. What really stands out to me about this track is the sheer volume, it’s a massive sound which the band have achieved, suggesting that this is going to be one hell of a loud live band, and one to make sure you check out! The Best Revenge almost comes as a shock then when the soft opening greets us, but worry not, it’s only for a moment. Once again launching us into a melee of hammering guitar lines and pounding drum lines, this is a seriously accomplished track which punches well above their weight. Catchy, disjointed (in a good way) and powerful from the word go, this track stands as further demonstration as to why you need to see this band on the live scene, they’ve got a sound which is impossible to resist.
Closing with Treatment the mood is once again switched, this time reverting to a softer and more emotional outlook than earlier tracks. Melodic and emotionally laden from the off, this track may well present us with a change in the bands approach but it’s one which they pull of with aplomb for sure. The softness soon moves back into the realms of heavy yet still keeps the sense of melody at the forefront of the sound, making it impossible not to simply listen to what’s going on, questioning how on earth they can craft a sound which is so enthralling. As the track comes to a close after a blistering guitar solo, it seems the EP comes to a close all too soon, but leaves you wanting more from this tightly knit unit.
Zoltar Speaks have cracked it with this EP, producing a sound which comes across as fresh and new in a market where there are too many bands simply following convention. Their sound doesn’t follow these conventions, instead carving its own path through music and inviting everyone along for the ride to join them. One question is raised for me – if this is just their EP, what have they still got to come next?!
To find out more about Zoltar Speaks, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls