Having wowed just about everybody with their Hevy Festival performance, the CA Hardcore giants; Ceremony are back with their latest long play effort. Gaining a controversial approach from fans and journalists alike, claiming that Zoo has witnessed Ceremony “going soft”.
Indeed, Ross Farrar’s brutal vocals have been replaced with a type of American drawl, but the aggression is still present, not to mention the thrashy guitar riffs and ferocious bass lines. Especially through tracks such as, the album’s opener and lead single – Hysteria, from the drumstick count in to the ominous guitar riff that could suit a Master of Puppets B-side, pulsating over Farrar’s gnarly vocals. As well as, Citizen with the plodding bass line, power chords a plenty and a soaring solo.
However, aside from the stigma that goes with the slight mellowing, it is evident that Zoo is an experimental album, enveloping an element of psychedelica to accompany the raging riffs. For instance, Nosebleed descends into a swirly haze of distortion and reverb that wrestles with the slurred vocals. Drawing similarities to the style of their label contemporaries; Fucked Up, especially taking their latest effort – The Year Of The Tiger into account.
With standout points Community Service and Repeating The Circle, the first mirrors a sound similar to Minor Threat’s traditional hardcore approach. Yet Repeating The Circle abides to an almost lo-fi haze with a creepy guitar that could be compared to a modern day version of The Cramps. Showing that the mass of covers from their previous EP release is still evident on their latest album.
So, apart from the fact that major fans may be disheartened by the imposed lack of raw brutality, however Zoo certainly proves that Ceremony are not a one trick pony. As song-writing goes, it may well be their best release to date.
Jonathan Hatchman.
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