Zeke - 'Til The Livin' End
The interesting thing about Zeke is they always manage to sneak in some big change to their sound almost every album yet keep true to their core. The big change on this album is the clear
movement into Motorhead territory with some sprinkles of stoner rock thrown in there. There's a new low end fuzz to the guitars that you've never heard on other Zeke albums. This gives this album an admirably beefy sound, particularly on the mid-paced cuts, but sacrifices that sense of controlled fury in previous efforts.
The three most blatant examples of this new sound are "Little Queen", "Dragonfly" and "Dolphenwulf". "Little Queen" is vintage Motorhead to the T. Marky even howls like Lemmy, heightening the effect as much as the Wurzel like solo. "Dragonfly" and "Dolphenwulf" sound like they could have been directly lifted from a Monster Magnet/Orange Goblin album. This is a bit different as in the past it's been hard to say Zeke sounded like anyone (with maybe the obvious exception of Speedealer on Dirty Sanchez) but there's some clear comparisons here. I have to say I don't mind it though, maybe because I'm a huge fan of the bands most directly influencing this record.
I've also thought Zeke is at their strongest when they slow it down a little which is the prevailing approach on this record. Yes I appreciate the blindingly fast cuts of albums past but the real fist pumping sing alongs that rule their live show have always been songs like "Daytona". My one gripe with this record, and the reason it's not my fav Zeke album, is they've also always held a special place in my heart for that go-for-broke, balls to the wall, "Kicked In The Teeth" sound. On this record there's a few faster paced cuts that smolder but nothing that really burns like the glories of past records. So while I think this is a great album and one that ranks high in the Zeke discography, I'd still have to give the nod to Death Alley as the best combination of the two sides of the Zeke coin.
The three most blatant examples of this new sound are "Little Queen", "Dragonfly" and "Dolphenwulf". "Little Queen" is vintage Motorhead to the T. Marky even howls like Lemmy, heightening the effect as much as the Wurzel like solo. "Dragonfly" and "Dolphenwulf" sound like they could have been directly lifted from a Monster Magnet/Orange Goblin album. This is a bit different as in the past it's been hard to say Zeke sounded like anyone (with maybe the obvious exception of Speedealer on Dirty Sanchez) but there's some clear comparisons here. I have to say I don't mind it though, maybe because I'm a huge fan of the bands most directly influencing this record.
I've also thought Zeke is at their strongest when they slow it down a little which is the prevailing approach on this record. Yes I appreciate the blindingly fast cuts of albums past but the real fist pumping sing alongs that rule their live show have always been songs like "Daytona". My one gripe with this record, and the reason it's not my fav Zeke album, is they've also always held a special place in my heart for that go-for-broke, balls to the wall, "Kicked In The Teeth" sound. On this record there's a few faster paced cuts that smolder but nothing that really burns like the glories of past records. So while I think this is a great album and one that ranks high in the Zeke discography, I'd still have to give the nod to Death Alley as the best combination of the two sides of the Zeke coin.
