Artist: Zoroaster
Title: Matador
Type: Album
Label: eOne Entertainment

‘Matador’ is the first release by Atlanta psyche-metallers Zoroaster on eOne, their previous offerings being self produced on their own label. Being home to such successful acts as Hatebreed and In Flames, there was a danger that losing their independence would lead to a more mainstream sound. From the first fuzzy bars of album opener, ‘D.N.R.’ it’s obvious that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Fuzzy, down tuned, and down right psychedelic, the vocals a somnambulant blur, Zoroaster continue to build on the doom foundations they laid down on their previous releases ‘Dog Magic’ and ‘Voice of Saturn.’ This trippy sound is developed even further on ‘Odyssey’, the singing fading out behind a wall of acid dripping guitars. Strangely, whilst without a doubt a band that falls well within the realms of stoner rock, their sound at times reminded me of nothing more then Madchester’s own Charlatans and ‘The Only One I Know’! I even played the two tracks simultaneously, the two blending into a Sergeant Pepper’s epic!

‘Trident’ has harder sound, the lyrics a distorted wail accompanied by licks that could have come from the fingers of Keith Richards at his sixties best, layered over a stamping beat of bass and drums. This fades into the insane squeal and feedback of ‘Firewater’, four minutes of instrumental feedback freak out like the soundtrack to Dave Brock’s dreams. ‘Old World’ follows, and despite being over seven minutes, is arguably the most immediate and accessible track. Whilst I call it accessible, don’t expect this epic slice of ambient doom to ever appear on Radio 1 on the breakfast show amongst the tinny auto-offerings of modern pop! It is simply the least experimental of their tracks, but still a skilfully played slab of doom.

Throughout the nine tracks of ‘Matador’, Zoroaster build up deeply complex and massively atmospheric stoner epics, more then heavy enough for the long haired denizens of metal, but with an ambience that may well appeal to the indie aesthetic. Wherever they may find their audience, this is a band that deserves to be heard.

http://www.zoroasterrocks.com
http://www.myspace.com/thezoroaster