THE TOWERS OF AVARICE

Interesting that the band thanks POWER OF OMENS in the liner notes because that band's singer at the time was Chris Salinas, who would eventually become ZERO HOUR's vocalist on "Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond". This record is a concept album about a society who becomes enslaved to a thoughtless industrial ideal. The towers' appetite for energy and progress is so great that human beings become it's only remaining resource for power.Worked until dead and then used to feed it's machinery, the towers continue to rise without any concern for the welfare of the people. On the outside however, lives the Subterranean. This self-proclaimed saviour lives beneath the city and believes he alone can liberate society from it's oppressor. This was taken from the liner notes.

"The Towers Of Avarice" opens with an ominous soundscape before guitar and then a full crushing sound arrives a minute in. Check out the bass ! The Tipton brothers are waging war on this song. Vocals 2 1/2 minutes in as he sings slowly and deliberately, almost speaking. It's heavy as hell a minute later.Thunderous drums, and the bass is unbelieveably deep.The floor boards in my truck are shaking ! "The Subterranean" is similar in sound to the first track exept the vocalist is actually singing.The lead guitar is ripping it up and there are tons of bottom end again like on the first song. "Stratagem" is a break from the relentless heaviness as bass, drums and guitar open the proceedings. Ok that didn't last long as it gets heavy, then even heavier as the guitar grinds away. A calm before 2 1/2 minutes as vocals arrive.They get quite theatrical as slabs of bass and drums are hurled at us over and over again.The tempo picks up 4 1/2 minutes in. Love the mellow section 5 minutes in with reserved vocals. It lasts a minute. "Reflections" is my least favourite track and it's about as close to ballad-like that ZERO HOUR will come. Synths late to end it are cool though.

"Demise And Vestige" is my favourite song on here and it's almost 16 minutes long. A guitar riff and lava-like bass as drums come and go. Vocals and a calm before 2 minutes. Vocals get angry after 3 minutes as the sound starts to build. It's built ! Another calm 4 1/2 minutes in before the heaviness returns 2 minutes later. Outstanding lead guitar work. More incredibly heavy bass 7 minutes in. An ominous section arrives before the guitar comes in followed by chunky bass and vocals. I really like this passage. It gets heavy again. Amazing sound 15 minutes in as it settles down again.There is some fantastic lead guitar solos in this song. "The Ghosts Of Dawn" is atmospheric to start as piano eventually comes in followed by vocals. Background synths are a nice touch. Vocals are almost spoken but they do get theatrical. It gets kind of spooky 5 minutes in to the end of the song and album.

I have to say that I don't think i've ever heard heavier bass lines than what's offered on this album. Amazing. This is a dark and gloomy concept album that is absolutely brilliant.