Food is essential Listening (Food - Zico Chain)

Member Name: Lakerfanster

Product:	Food - Zico Chain
Date:	16/10/07 (240 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Awesome Tracks

Disadvantages: None

My Introduction to Zico Chain

I first heard of them back in May when I had tickets for Velvet Revolver's gig at Cardiff International Arena on 7th June. I was looking around the internet looking for who would be supporting them and along with Satellite Party, Zico Chain were one of the support acts for Velvet Revolver and I was very impressed by what I heard of their music.

Who are Zico Chain?

Chris Glithero - Chris is the bassist and lead singer os Zico Chain and he hails from Manchester, He is a fantastic bassist who comes up with some great hooks that are key to the overall feel of Zico Chain's music.

Paul Frost - Paul is the bands Guitarist and is one of the most focused newcomers I have heard in recent years. He has a superb ability to play frenetic riffs throughout the song, he also takes care of some of the vocals.

Ollie Middleton - Ollie in my opinion looks like Damien Bodie (Dylan Timmins in Neighbours) when Bodie grows his beard. Middleton is one of the best drummers in the past few years, able to pin down a track with frenetic drumming.

The guys met back in 2002 at University and became friends through talking about their musical tastes and found there was something that they could work on as a band. It wasnt until 2005 that they were signed. Their name comes from Legendary Brazilian Footballer Zico who was Chris' Idol. And the chain came together through the meaning of "Zico Chain"

The Music

They released an EP which contained six of their songs. They are as follows Rohypnol, This Thing, Rollover, Social Suicide, Brain and finally The Lonely Ones. These tracks were released during their tour and were available at the venues during their performance.

Their music takes the best metal like riffs and fuses them with infectiously catchy melodies which blend together to make a superbly hectic but yet controlled album with fine singing which is increasingly rare in the style of music.

The Band Live

They produce an amazing performance and are really focused on the job in hand when they are on stage but once they are off they are one of the few bands who will chat with their fans. I shook Guitarist Paul Frost's hand after a recent gig in Yeovil and thanked him for an amazing performance and many other fans were seen talking to them like they the band had known them for years.

I Have now seen them in Cardiff and Yeovil and I am looking to see them a couple of times on the current tour of the United Kingdom. Bristol and Birmingham maybe on the cards for me and my Zico Chainers.

Tracklisting

1. Pretty Pictures
2. Where Would You Rather Be?
3. Last weeks genius
4. Junk
5. Roll Over
6. Preach
7. No Hoper Boy
8. Your Favorite Client
9. Nihilism
10. All Eyes On Me
11. Anaemia

The Food Album

1.) Pretty Pictures starts off the album like it means to go on, A wonderful energetic track with stupendously catchy melodies which you don't often find in Metal. A great live track.

2.) Where would you rather be is the next track and just like the opening Pretty Pictures is a toe tapping stomper this is even moe of one. The guitar melodies on this track are out of this world. Awesome.

3.) Last weeks genius is for me the weakest track on the album, don't get me wrong it's still a great track but doesnt have the same ooomph that the other tracks on Food do.

4.) Junk is the fourth track and brings the album back from great to superb. An amazingly hectic track but their timing is astonishing. Some unbelievable melodies produced from Paul and Chris and a superb solo from Paul.

5.) Roll Over is another great track which has a great melody but isnt quite as good as the best on here. I still love to hear this track as it has a hectic pace and great melodies. Some great guitar work from Paul.

6.) Preach is the most experimental of the tracks and starts of with a bluesy slide guitar and then develops with frantic drumming and kick ass bass guitar hooks and soaring guitar from Paul Frost.

7.) No Hoper Boy is a great track which has a very quick melody with some changes that show off their superb timing so well. Some great all round drumming in this track and as ever some superb melodies from Paul and Chris.

8.) Your favourite client starts off with high pitched guitars and then develops into music that sounds a little like something Queens of the stone age would do. The vocals from both Chris and Paul on this track are very good indeed.

9.) Nihilism is kind of like Tool from their latest album 10,000 days. But it still has that unmistakable Zico Chain sound. Frantic drumming and guitar make this a very interesting track.

10.) All Eyes on Me is the perfect song. Amazing melodies from the guitar and bass and an astonishingly catchy chorus which makes this a live favourite and is extraordinarily good.

11.) Anaemia is the final track and is a superb end to an exhilarating album full of frantic metal with a difference. Another fine track that is frantic and full of great timing and melodies.

The Recording

This really is an amazing recording and it was surely worthwile jetting over to Los Angeles to record the album with top West Coast producer Joe Baresi who has worked with the likes of American Metal stalwarts Tool and Queens of the stone age in the past.

Overall

Well there we have it, the debut album from Zico Chain is a great album that hits you in an instant. The album was only released yesterday and I listened to it all through from about 2.30pm till about 8.30. With another tour coming soon I'm sure there will be many more new fans going to gigs around the country.

Eleven tracks that pack so much into around three minutes. It doesnt matter that the songs are short as they are not lacking in quality at all.

I have already seen them twice already and that is more than I have ever seen any artist before. But they are just such an awesome live act that you owe it to yourself to see them as many times as you can. Tickets are only £6.

Summary: Grea debut.