If there's one scene I wish I could be in right now, it would have to be the LA thrash metal scene. It's honestly one of the most over crowded and hotly contested scenes metal music has ever seen. Every time one of the local big boys rolls back into town after a tour or two (and by big boys I mean Warbringer, Bonded by Blood, Merciless Death, etc.) they'll throw together a local gig and co headline with another one of the bigger LA thrashers. Of course, they get some bands to open and there are literally tons of them lying in wait. Go to the myspace page of BBB or Witchaven, check out the "flyers" photo album, and you'll see what I mean. Bands like Tormenter, Hatchet, Nihilist, Fog of War, Devastator, Scythe, Armored Assassin, Premunition, Horrid, and on and on are all eager to get together for a hoedown.
Zombie Holocaust is one of those bands. So far their only significant effort has been the self released Strike Force full length, and it's got all the good stuff you'd expect from a new wave thrash band. Tons of 80's references, impressive shredding guitars, a fun DIY attitude, a genuine love of the music, and solid overall musicianship. The only problem? This has all been done before. Yeah, yeah, a song about a Star Wars character? It's been done. Party song? Municipal Waste did a whole album on the subject 2 years ago. LA Punk vocal style? Please, it's been done to death for decades.
While there's nothing inherently wrong with this release, there's nothing right about it either. There's a reason why this band hasn't been signed and that's because they haven't made any splash in the scene yet. They're just along for the ride and picking up where everyone's been for quite sometime now. Hell, they're probably don't even care about getting signed and are just doing it for shit's a giggles. Who am I to judge? If they're genuinely having fun with it, and deciding to self release some material every now and again, by all means go for it. If they ever stop by close (they've done just one US tour and it only hit 14 cities)I'll gladly pay my five dollars to see 'em jam. However if I lived in LA, I'd shit bricks to see these guys open with half a dozen of their contemporaries and be stoked every time.
Thanks Matt, we always love a well written review. You did hit pretty close to home with how correct you were. And you know of all our buddies from the LA scene. I am surprised you haven't made it to catch a CA show yet.
ReplyDeleteDIY is the name of our game. We self-released 'Strike Force' in 2009 and a month later it was picked up and rereleased by EBM records in Mexico as part of their Thrash is Back series. So it is not entirely true to say we are unsigned. But you are very correct when you say, "They probably don't even care about getting signed." If any band goes into this with only the intention of getting signed then they are in for some real disappointment.
I wouldn't say our only "significant effort" as a band is Strike Force. We are actually strong supporters of the over metal scene in general. We book most of the shows for bands touring through the Bay Area. Also we are the promoters for CA largest Metal Fest "Slaughter by the Water" (www.slaughterbythewater.com) I would call that our biggest effort. Keeping the scene alive or else we would all have to going to Dub Step show =(
But overall, good review you have here. But I am puzzled at your line, "The only problem? This has all been done before." Although this is true, hasn't all 'New Wave of Thrash' been done before. That is why it is the 'New wave of Thrash' its thrash fans making the music they are fans of. None of Us are ground breaking, even most of our band names are not original. But i do promise you and the readers this. When us NWOTM bands come out with our sophomore albums. That is when we define our sound and who we are as musicians. Be on the look out for ZH's second album. I guarantee you will find things in there that no Thrash band has ever done. I also think it will be safe to say that you may not consider us solely a Thrash band after its release. Check out the sample tracks here, (http://www.megaupload.com/?c=filemanager) We'd love to hear what you and any others think.
Thank you much,
-ZH