By: Anders

Posted: Nov 12, 2005

Industrial fuelled metal seems to be on its way forward, more and more bands are experimenting with the style and more and more labels dare to sign the bands, and release the hybrids of extreme metal and industrial. When thinking of extreme metal and industrial, it's natural to think of Fear Factory, which was the first band to hit it big with the style, but the genre contains so much more.

This band hails from France and delivers hardboiled thrashy death metal with a hardcore edge as their main base, weaved into that are cold samples and atmospheric spheres. There are some good harsh and brutal guitar riffs, straight to the point, captivating and crushing, they built up the general atmosphere. The vocals are harsh and screamed, frustrated and grim. The vocals are varied very well, though once in a while a clean, rather "whiny" vocal surfaces, and that doesn't fit that well into the general atmosphere of Zuul FX, though that's merely a small scratch on the surface, and it becomes more suiting and appropriate, with each listen to the album.

The compositions have their base in traditional brutal and groovy thrash and death metal, though the displays some modern elements as well. There are a lot of groove going on here and there, and break beat-alike rhythm patterns are used as well. Together with melodic "sing along" hooks here and there. Though it fits the music and makes it reach a higher wholesome, even though it not all is as original as other.

The hard hitting music together with the punishing and straight in your face production, make this album quite a package. The album needs a few spins before it settles totally, but then it hooks and rips the body and mind apart. A really good debut album from this French quartet, and a band that I personally will look forward to hear more material from. Dark and straight in your face metal with a modern and industrial flair, without overdoing it!

Rating: 7½/10

Print