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RECORDING INFORMATION |
Debut release
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at "The Rubber Room" by Tim from August 2002 through February 2003. The project was completed entirely in the digital domain with all sessions tracked straight to a computer-based hard disk system via the Yamaha 01v digital mixer.
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| COMMENTS & REVIEWS |
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MJBrady
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Published on: 20 Apr 2003
After getting some chances of hearing Zeroesques' debut selftitled cd, and reading Andre's (ProgViking) review, I felt compelled to offer a different take on this fine cd. First I will confess that Zeroesques music firmly fits into my list of favorite genres, and that is aggressive, instrumental, progressive fusion, music that is not merely dedicated to riffing for the sake of riffing, but carefully and technically constructed songs that allow the musicians to present their talents in tight ensemble play, as well as ample amounts of virtuoso moments.
In hearing the first song, Space Race, I couldn't help thinking of Planet X, or perhaps Jeff Beck's more fusiony music. As each song passes, they continue to explore these very influences, and for me, that means positive comments, Oddly enough, Zeroesque is a tandem, consisting of Tim Lehner on keyboards, and Shawn Christie on guitar and bass, with a host of some notable and not no notable contributors offering stellar performances on select songs, the notable players (at least to my knowledge) are Scott McGill (Hand Farm/ McGill-Manring-Stevens) and Vinnie Moore handling some of the guitar passages, the drums are handled collectively by Josh Gasior, Tim Lloyd, Brian Farr, who all do a fine job holding down the rhythm, and adding to the intensity as well.
As stated earlier in this review, I can hear some heavy influences of Planet X in Zeroesque's music, this being the prominence of Tim Lehner's keyboards, his playing is in the style of the fusion maestros of yesterday and today, as I listen to his playing on this disc, echoes of Sherinian, Rudess, Hammer, Zavod, Lumley, Stewart, etc. come to mind. As for the guitars, the use of guest musicians gives a few different styles and tones to add to the flavor of the music, and each player is unique enough to allow the listener to differentiate between them.
My one glaring problem with this cd, is that it is over with too soon, granted the track times are short, and there are 11 songs, but when you hear one good song after another, suddenly you find yourself wnating for more, and that is a good sign that you like what you are hearing. This is a solid debut, the future is wide open for this band, as there seems to be a growing community for such music, hopefully everyone that enjoys the heavier side of progressive fusion music will get a hold of this cd, it's a good one.
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ProgViking
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Published on: 10 Apr 2003
Instrumental band Zeroesque is the new milleniums answer to Symphonic slam with a heavy guitar/keyboardbased progressive rock full of fusion. Their style is somewhere in the area of Symphonic slam, Deus ex machina, Somnambulist with a healthy dose of Mahavishnu orchestra thrown in. Zeroesque consists of Tim (keyboards) and Shawn (guitars) with the help of some drummer friends and a few special guests.
First song kicks off at the speed of light with a heavy guitar and keyboard riff that feels like an intro to the album. The second song is quite the opposite consisting of only piano showing that this band also has the ability to write more relaxing and beautiful music. That said, the rest of the album keeps the tempo up.
Their music is progressive rock for the new millennium, and with that I mean it's fresh, fast and heavy. Most of the songs are very guitarheavy, but never really bordering to metal. There's lot of heavy guitarriffs with an overlaying mooglike keyboardmelody or solo. The more the album moves on the more fusion it gets, some songs are pure fusion with hints of almost avante-gardish Deus ex machina rock. Take the songs "Tequila Mockingbird" or "Maxilla Gorilla" for example, songs that fits right in on anything Deus ex machina has done.
Interesting with this band is that they don't only has a lot of cool chops, they have the ability to write interesting songs also. The song "Feels like falling" is the longest song on the albums and starts off nice and quiet and builds up to more uptempo and complex progressive rock. It's full of great chops with lots of twists and turns with a few fusion elements thrown in. The highlight on the album in my opinion.
This is the young bands debut albums wich shows in the eagerness to show everybody "look how we can play", and sure they can play. They're both skilled players but for the next album they should concentrate more on songwriting than fast solos. A song of mostly solos is a tricky thing, only Yngwie gets away with that.
Conclusion: A fine and very enjoyable album. This is probably an embryo of what to come from this band. Fans of the mentioned bands should check this album out. I expect great things in the future here, already waiting for the next album.....
Rating: **** (4/5)
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| TRACKS |
CREDITS
(click to view performer credits) |
PROGGNOSIS SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
(click to view Release Page) |
- Space race
- I say
- You say
- Dizzle tizzle
- Feels like falling
- Ten fifteen
- Tequila mockingbird
- Maxilla gorilla
- All's well that ends swell
- Dujz
- New math
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