Band: Zero Fire
Title: Second Sun
Label: Independent/Self-released
Release date: March 22, 2019
Country: Canada
Format reviewed: high-rate mp3 promo
The modern hard-rock outfit ZERO FIRE hails from the Canadian port city of Hamilton in the Ontario province. The band released their self-titled debut EP in February 2015. Continuing to improve their presence on the local rock circuit, the band released the single “Ghost”, in October of 2017, a song that also made the cut for their second EP, titled “Second Sun”, set to be independently released on March 22nd 2019. Keeping pretty close to the sound and style of their debut EP, “Second Sun” is a modern sounding body of music, composed of five songs and one interlude, for a total of six tracks, just shy of seventeen minutes in length. The rather short songs (maybe a bit too short) will leave the listener wanting to hit “play” again, at the end of the EP. The plus side of having shorter songs is that each song’s idea reaches its destination, in a straight to the point concept.
The well composed and arranged tracks feature a relatively dense, guitar riff oriented, wall of sound, with a clear alternative metal vibe, which is a rather fitting frame for the vocals. The undeniable pop quality, mid to high register soaring vocals are sometimes accented by more extreme growls. Instrumentally, the listener will discover some faint classic hardcore inflections. Drumming on the EP is fluid and incorporates streamlined patterns. I personally find the bass guitar sound to be a bit buried into the mix, on a otherwise well produced record. This is what the band have to say in regards to their forthcoming release: "We're very excited to release our new EP, ‘Second Sun‘, on March 22nd 2019. We've worked long and hard to try and craft something that captures the essence of what our band is about. We've tried to draw from our influences like Deftones, Queens of the Stone Age and The Mars Volta to create something that's full of heavy riffs but also stays stuck in your head. We hope everyone enjoys this record as much as we do."
Zero Fire’s “Second Sun” leaves the listener interested to hear more. Perhaps in a form of a full-length release (sometimes in the near future). This style of music seems to be in some demand, specifically from the younger generation of rockers and even metalheads. Fans of Tool, Deftones and The Mars Volta, would appreciate this EP. 8/10
© 2019 by Emil Chiru