As if one Zedi Forder album was not enough to be excited over, the trio has a second to grip attention in the shape of Judgement; though this is an entirely different proposition to explore, a twin project going by the name of Zedi Forder Superium. Self-described as “The sledgehammer to Zedi Forder’s scalpel; two sides of the same coin,” this openly unique alter-ego is a far fiercer trespass on the senses and imagination, a fury of sound and thought which soon proved just as striking and compelling as its counterpart.
Whereas the second Zedi Forder album, Isolation, exposed and explored “a sense of feeling separate and apart from the various communities and industry elements that dominate most of the music world”, Zedi Forder Superium takes on the whole world and its corruptions and toxicity which the Woking, UK hailing trio of drummer/vocalist and primary song writer Chris Kerley, guitarist Wayne Clifford, and bassist Rich Tomsett describe as “a fury from the voice of a calculating arbiter that looks to right the wrongs of the world, of all scopes and sizes, one at a time”.
As a mechanical toned voice casts accusations and lyrical reprisals across Judgement, there is something of The Day the Earth Stood Still meets V for Vendetta to the character of the album while musically it is bred in the varied metal and raw rock instincts of the band. As the opening Anthem Of Justice reveals it is an inclination which does not deter melodic enterprise and bold imagination. Instantly the track is buzzing around ears, its hornet like riffs harrying the senses and a quickly formed appetite as beats jab and its bassline weaves. That machine-like vocal incitement is swiftly in the centre of the creative dispute, staggering its potent challenge as Kerley’s predacious rhythms dance. Equally bass and guitar share certain rapacity in their touch and enterprise, the combination as varied in flavour as it is barbarous in touch.
Wherefore Art Thou follows, its initial attack Skindred like but soon stalking the listener with its own bold intensity, style, and a swing which had us bouncing. Alongside the mechanical proclamation, Kerley aligns his own distinctive melodic tones; that seemingly the spark to increased imagination and diversity within the song which by now bears at times a bit of an Anti-Clone like hue.
Next up is Knock Knock and immediately it nags ears with riff wired temptation, an accompanying trespass tempered by floating harmonies and melody bred grooves though they in turn are preyed upon by a virulence of voracious rhythms and the sonic toxicity of the guitar. The track is as irresistible as those before it, proving even easier to be greedy over while Fight Evil With Intolerance is almost sermon like in its rise and injurious in its intent yet, as within all tracks, proves a supportive and rousing incitement physically and provocatively.
As Slippery Slope entangles ears and imagination in its remorseless intimation and implacable dynamics, only tightening its grip across striking twists and devious turns, and Noisy pushes all the right buttons with barbarous and ruthless prowess, Judgement only confirmed its impressive and addictive presence, Awake backing both up in creative kind. It too prowls and stalks the listener, a sonic predator embroiled in the voracious instincts of groove and alternative metal but wrapped in a progressive veil of fertility.
Completed by the melodic melancholy and shadow escaping sure hand of Quell My Beating Heart, beauty shimmering off every surface it bears, Judgement was total captivation. Easily fans will know its source from the craft and songwriting behind it and Kerley’s distinct tones yet the album and indeed Zedi Forder Superium itself has risen to find uniqueness amidst inescapable dominance.
Judgement exclusively released May 11th @ https://tricore.bandcamp.com/ with a “PAY WHAT YOU LIKE” pricing.
https://www.zediforder.com/ https://www.facebook.com/zediforder https://twitter.com/ZediForder
Pete RingMaster 14/05/2020
Copyright RingMasterReview: MyFreeCopyright
Formed a year ago, Crostpaths take the inspirations of bands such as Linkin Park, Skindred, and Papa Roach to their nu-metalcore tagged sound and it is the latter of the trio which most comes to mind across the EP’s three tracks. Even so there is plenty to their music which is refreshingly unique as it is familiar and as it evolves its true identity over time and maturity you can only see the former being the overbearing hue.
The EP’s title track follows, seducing with its volatile first breath before chaining attention with appetite feeding hooks and loaded rock ‘n’ roll. The rhythmic trespass of bassist Simon Oliver Økland and drummer Sigurd Haakaas is as infectious as it is punishingly incisive with the guitar of Yngve Andersen equally as animated and mercurial within the caress of keys. A fiery slice of temptation it craftily backs up the potency of its predecessor and the dextrous antics of next up No Thank You, I’m More In To Fake Grindcore. It too aligns instinctive rock boisterousness with its punk instincts, imagination lining every rabid twist and provocative turn.
It is an outstanding start quickly matched by recent single Matching Poles of Magnets. With steelier textures to its electro metal predation, bands like Axis Mundi and Silent Descent coming to mind, the track twists and turns with instinctive and rapacious adventure before Half Empty brings a warm calm to the senses. Immediately vocals echo this mellow breath with their melodic unity but equally a rising discontent in the heart of the song brews as things become more intense and irritable. It never reaches an aggressive state though, revolving through melancholic elegance and emotive exposure as a weave of rich enterprise wraps vocal reflection.
The flames of trombonist Ieuan Williams and saxophonist Jon Pryce open up the following Get Off/Get On, lighting the way to another persuasive saunter ridden by the increasingly captivating vocals of Conner. There is a touch of [Spunge] meets King Prawn to the track, a tasty flavouring quickly ignited by the band’s own raucously individual enterprise.
Produced by James LeRock Loughrey (Skindred, White Zombie, My Vitriol, Bjork, Def Leppard), Valley of Thorns kicks off with its lead single, Mind Games teasing the senses with its sonic mist before boldly strolling through ears with a Deftones meets Spinnerette like captivation. There is a haunting air and emotive depth to the song yet it has a virulent swing to its gait and rhythmic persuasion which has the body swaying and appetite greedy in no time. A track epitomising the seductive persuasion and nagging irritability in The Kut’s sound, it is pure mesmerism which has become stronger and more striking across multiple plays.
The following Realizationship is similarly woven if even more irritable and too a web of seduction and sonic violence which never stops twisting and turning within its storm. The song lacks the final striking essences of its predecessor yet with teasing grooves and fury loaded flames of melody it masterfully hits the spot and an imagination already submissive to the inventively evolving landscapes the band shares within songs.
It opens up with the swiftly captivating Wanderlust, riffs and melodic enticement soon colluding in their persuasion of the listener. Probing rhythms court the sultry grooves emerging within the heated and quickly infectious proposal; strong and similarly alluring vocals completing the tempting scene. There is a swing to the song’s gait and magnetic enterprise in its melodic and sonic interplay while the chorus is one where it would simply be rude not to join in with.
It is a stunning start to the EP, essences of early Mudvayne, Spineshank, and indeed Anti-Clone coming to mind as it ignites body and spirit before passing its willing victim over to the waiting infectious animus of Last Ones. With a seriously catchy chorus breaking up yet managing to inflame or at least accentuate its ferocious confrontation, the song similarly impresses while recruiting eager involvement in its contagious tempest.
The release opens up with Cocytus, an instrumental of imposing grandeur and looming shadows creating the climate you would expect surrounding the domain and god of the underworld. Guitars eventually encroach on the deceitful grace of the air creating a link to waiting venomous jaws as the track flows into the predacious animosity and corrosive depths of Styx. As the guitars of James Graham and Chris Kelsall gnaw and taunt the senses with riffs and grooves, vocalist Liam Stark descends and invades with his raw and potent mix of attacks, the frontman as the sound around him openly showing a growth in snarl and dexterity since that last EP. The guitars continue to weave a web of creative deceit, lures of infectious and seductive design woven to violate while the biting beats of Mike Collins and the tenebrific lines of bassist Jason McEwan have nothing in mind except merciless trespass.