Reviews
Harmonic Tremors
Zozobra

Released: Jan 30, 2007
Label: Hydra Head Records
Reviewed by: Archive Bot
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For those who do not know, Zozobra is about big drums, bottom heavy bass, raspy vocals, static-charged guitars, and a dirty psychedelic swirl. Harmonic Tremors is a combustive cocktail of sound that holds you up against the wall and smacks you around a bit. Kind of like if Pink Floyd was a heavy metal band, or if Neurosis came from Haight-Ashbury-era San Francisco instead of mid-Eighties crust punk.
Zozobra have all the right criteria: the drone, the space, the jam, the groove, and the really loud, professional equipment to make it sound good. They are a little noisy, a little melodic; they are heavy without being too oppressive. The emphasis here is on force. Going against them is that this album definitely has the jam-first-vocals-second vibe to it, unfortunately adding to the empty feeling of a “side project,” which is hopefully not the ultimate case for this band.
Scofield has officially proven himself to be the “other” talented guy from Boston prog-heroes Cave-In. Whether Cave-In is broken up for good remains to be seen, but here is the advice to Mr. Scofield: pursue this band immediately with a strong second release. Get a solid touring line-up and make this thing grow, baby. If they clear up their sound like Unsane or The Melvins did for their last releases, Zozobra’s sonic future will be an ear-pleasing black hole of noise and melody. Besides, what’s more fun as a seasoned musician than plugging in, turning up to ten, and cranking out some loud jams with your friends? Nothing, as far as can be told or heard.




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