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There are those certain CDs you love off the bat. You put it in the CD player in your car, and it stays there for months on end. After a while, you start thinking maybe you’re done with it for a bit, but you keep it there just to be sure. Then there’s the CDs you buy and try to return the exact same day, just hoping you’ll get your precious $10 back. So where does Song Of Zarathustra’s The Birth Of Tragedy lie? Pretty much smack dab in the middle.

To describe their sound, if possible, it should first be known that on recordings they've used a drum machine. They do have a live drummer, who's fully capable of everything performed on this record, but they've chosen to go the drum machine route for this, and their other full length, A View From High Tides. In any event, SOZ combines "the speedy math rock complexity of Drive Like Jehu, with the art-punk hysteria of Antioch Arrow, and the artillery power of Nuerosis." This description is according to Epitonic.com, and I'd say it's fitting to a certain extent. The description is sort of misleading though, because this sounds more like straightforward hardcore than it does a fusion of those three. The result works in certain instances, others not as much.

After the minute or so intro, the album immediately kicks into "Mess Of Zero." The song starts off in an eerie mood, with the sounds of an organ resonating before the vocals actually kick in. The organ is done on a keyboard, as the lead singer handles the band's keyboard duties as well. Then the vocals and guitar kick in. I've actually never noticed this until listening to the song at this very moment, but the vocals are quite intense while still giving off sort of a "bouncy" feel. The shredding and stopping on a dime of the guitars, accompanied by the frenzied screaming just makes you want to bob your head. You almost get sort of a Blood Brothers-type feel for the song - almost. But that'll be the end of that comparison, because at no other point in this album does that comparison sound true. The keyboards may lead some people to draw that line, but none of the rest of the music matches. None of the songs here really stand out all that much, but the intensity of the music keeps things interesting. And clocking in at only 22 minutes or so, it doesn't ever really have the time to wear out its welcome. The 12 songs all hover at about the two minute mark or less, just enough for the songs to really hit you. There is an instrumental song on here to stir things up a bit, a keyboard driven-song with a pretty solid guitar-accented crescendo to finish things up.

Lyrically, Song Of Zarathustra's true intent comes out. They're all Nihlist, and pretty big on the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, those being that traditional philosophy and religion are erroneous, and thus harmful to human life. "Anxious for what the future forsees? / All temptations, release... / Believe and receive." It's pretty obvious that their ideals are spread right across the lyrics page. I'm sure some will complain they can't get into the music because of the clash of ideologies they share with the band, but the vocals are so incoherent that even looking at the lyrics sheet it's tough to understand. What you cannot hear cannot affect you.

When all is said and done, these guys lay some really solid music on the table here. It's fast, furious, and there's no Vin Diesel. If that's not appealing to a fan of hardcore, I don't know what is.



People who liked this also liked:
Count the Hours - We Don't CareShot Baker - Shot BakerThe Coup - Pick a Bigger WeaponAntlerand - BranchesThe Black Heart Procession - The SpellThe Blonde Alibi - Just Tell Me Who It WasJonah Matranga - There's a Lot in Here [CD/DVD]The Robocop Kraus - They Think They Are the Robocop KrausYakuza - SamsaraAlexisonfire - Crisis



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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 3, 2005 at 3:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    the bills? i always get them confused with all the great teams, like the bengals and the cardinals.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 31, 2004 at 3:22 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this reviewer is a moron. SOng of Zarathuustra did have a drummer, these records arent made with a drum machine. and Spirit of Versailles is a joke compared to Song

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-31 03:31:16
    My Score:

    Really, a music website, shit dude, hadn't even bothered to think about that. Mindblowing.

    Just because you don't take interest in sports, doesn't mean other people can't. Go look at the other threads, we've got people talking about Hinduism, math, and of all things, Donald Rumsfeld. But you take time out of your day to bitch about football.

    Get over it.

    Posted by hobbitcore on 2004-12-31 02:27:59
    My Score:

    why the fuck is everyone talking about football?!
    shut the fuck up, this is a music site.

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-30 15:57:36
    My Score:

    Yes, any analyst. Not ESPN as a collective body.

    Sean Salisbury, Chris Berman, John Clayton, AND Ron Jaworski have all said something to that effect. And Jaworski hates the Bills.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 30, 2004 at 1:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "You listen to any analyst on ESPN and they'll tell you, the Bills are the team that nobody in the NFL wants to play right now."

    Well, I guess if ESPN said it, it must be true.

    Posted by yellowtrash on 2004-12-29 01:38:10
    My Score:

    This was an alright release. I thought their last release "A View Of High Tides" was more "math-rock" oriented. They were fairly good for their day and were grouped with the "screamo" genre since they had tendencies for playing with midwest screamo bands like Spirit of Versailles.

    The singer is in a new band now called Chariots (not The Chariots, that a boring hardcore band).

    Posted by hobbitcore on 2004-12-29 01:12:41
    My Score:

    In any event, SOZ combines "the speedy math rock complexity of Drive Like Jehu, with the art-punk hysteria of Antioch Arrow, and the artillery power of Nuerosis." This description is according to Epitonic.com

    you're reviewing this record man...why don't you come up with your own description

    Posted by hobbitcore on 2004-12-29 01:11:18
    My Score:

    they definitely aren't screamo...it's more like really good heavy, discordant hardcore with keyboards

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-28 23:09:15
    My Score:

    This band sounds more like Scraps And Heart Attacks than they do Orchid or Spirit Of Versailles.

    Posted by bizzlebrizzle on 2004-12-28 23:02:29
    My Score:

    This band doesn't sound like a straight-up hardcore band, reviewer is stupid.

    They are a good screamo band(no it's not an oxymoron)

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-28 22:49:42
    My Score:

    Every one of The Jets wins, minus Buffalo and San Diego have been against sub-500 teams.

    Denver is in the exact same boat, only San Diego is above 500, the other teams they've beaten have been lackluster.

    Buffalo is set apart from those teams because they've got all the momentum in the world, whereas both of the other two are on their way down. I'm not saying Buffalo is a super bowl contender just yet, but they sure have the talent and momentum to ruffle some feathers in the playoffs.

    And if they keep the majority of the team, the Bills will have a super bowl within 3-4 years. With Losman, seeing as how he's a Vick/McNabb type player, and those types generally do well in the NFL, McGahee, then Moulds and Lee Evans on offense, I don't see too much that can stop them. Especially if that defense stays as good as it is.

    We'll see, though.

    Posted by skankin_in_the_pit on 2004-12-28 21:55:15
    My Score:

    Dudes, go look at who Buffalo has beaten on this hot streak. The last four are Miami, Cleveland, Cincinnatti, and San Francisco. Not too impressive. What would make you think they can go on the road and beat a good team in January when the best team they've beat all year was a Pennington-less Jets team?

    Maybe next year with Losman and if Mcgahee stays health all year.

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-28 21:34:44
    My Score:

    My bad on the mixup, but I'd still say St Louis is a dangerous team, especially since they can still win the division I'm pretty sure, if they win and Seattle loses.

    The Jets have something to prove against the Colts, but after being so shaky the last few weeks I'm not sold on their ability to do it, regardless of whether Peyton's in there or not.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-12-28 21:22:58
    My Score:

    Dude, you got it all twisted, Anchors. The Broncos play the Colts, and the Jets play the Rams. The Rams are awful and can't beat a team who doesn't just roll over because they already have home field advantage, and Indy has nothing to play for and will do what any smart choach would, rest Manning after like a quarter. So it's still gonna be tough for the Bills to get in. But it'll be a shame if they don't, you can't fuck with a team on a roll like that. No matter what happens, I'm excited to see what next year brings.

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-28 20:47:37
    My Score:

    Yeah, and the Patriots were beat too. By the Dolphins.

    And need you be reminded of early in the season, the first game the Bills and Pats played. It was 24-17, and the Bills were driving with a few minutes to go, inside the Patriots 25. Had they not fumbled, the Bills could have scored, and that game could have very easily gone into overtime, with the Bills possibly winning.

    Also, they lost on the last play to Jacksonville, and were cheated out of the Raiders game. This is a team that with a few bounces their way, could easily be 12-3 right now. Their defense is ranked 3rd in the league, higher than New England, and their offense has scored more in the last 6 game stretch than they ever did during their glory days in the early 90's with Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. You listen to any analyst on ESPN and they'll tell you, the Bills are the team that nobody in the NFL wants to play right now.

    Posted by skankin_in_the_pit on 2004-12-28 20:28:28
    My Score:

    "So the Bills are in the playoffs, and have the potential to beat anybody in there."

    I usually try to refrain from inane sports discussion that aren't "4 th punx" on here, but that is just retarded. In the middle of this good stretch they got CRUSHED by New England. This whole winning streak is built off wins vs. crappy NFC west teams that New England and the Jets beat eary in the season. They can't hang with any of the top 5 in the AFC.

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-12-28 20:16:05
    My Score:

    The Bills are absolutely making the playoffs. The Steelers have nothing to play for, and Cowher said himself anybody who's not 100% isn't starting Sunday. And what starters are 100% at this point in the season? Not many.

    Denver will have trouble for two reasons. Their QB is Jake Plummer, and they're playing the Rams, who's playoff chances are completely on the line in this game.

    The Jets play Indy, but supposedly Manning will be playing a decent portion of the game. They Jets have looked awful the last few weeks, I doubt they could take even a depleted Indy. So the Bills are in the playoffs, and have the potential to beat anybody in there.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 8:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Damnit! This album is so good so was thier next and last release. I wish I would've seen them more times than I did. Oh well RIP. I heard the lead singer rips shit off from his friend's moms. That is lame.. barf..

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-12-28 19:40:15
    My Score:

    War the Buffalo Bills making the playoffs.

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