SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND

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This has my vote for one of the best releases of 2006. Although there is a lot of heavy, complex and technical instrumentation here there is also lots of variety including tranquil passages and even a ballad ! The drummer i'm sure is out of his mind ! I was going to say his drum patterns are all over the place, but then I thought, what drum patterns? The lead and bass guitar players are twins, the Tipton brothers. And the singer who previously sang for the POWER OF OMENS is as diverse a singer as I have heard. One moment sounding like Geoff Tate and then hitting the high notes to a low sounding gothic voice. And then there are the lyrics that I don't usually pay a lot of attention to but I was blown away by the amazing words of some of these songs. And combining the emotional and meaningful lyrics with the powerful, complex music was truly humbling for me. As someone has said before "I am not worthy". Of note, there are no keys on this record which suits me fine. And in the liner notes they thank the lead guitarist for SUN CAGED, and also Meg (Prog-Maiden) which I thought was funny.They also drop a couple of F-bombs in thanking other people and end it all by thanking GOD for all his blessings. I love these guys.

"Face The Fear" opens with heavy guitar and odd metered drumming as the vocals slowly rise out of this soundscape from hell. It becomes tranquil 2 minutes in and he sounds like Tate, his vocals are incredible. Full speed ahead 5 minutes in with guitars blazing and drums pounding. Great tune ! "The Falcon's Cry" is such a special song and my favourite on the record.The lyrics are beyond words. It opens hard, heavy and complex all at the same time.The vocals range from gothic to rough to screaming.The song itself also changes from hard to light, fast to slow. Amazing.

"Embrace" is an instrumental with a vocal melody in the background.The guitar playing on this one is pretty cool. "Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond" opens with heavy, pounding drums as the guitar grinds it out and vocals scream.The song gets pastoral after 5 minutes with reserved vocals that are quickly blown away by some great solos from Jasun. "Zero Hour" is another instrumental of intricate guitar and drums throughout. "I Am Here" is a mellow song with gentle guitar and fragile vocals. Nice. "Evidence Of The Unseen" opens with heavy drums and vocals as the guitar slices in and out of the melody, this is contrasted to the softening guitars, drums and vocals 2 minutes in. Again the lyrics are incredible ! The song ends with the words "You are the evidence of the unseen".

I am definitely going to check out their album "The Towers Of Avarice" and the POWER OF OMENS records as well.

I recently bought a copy of this Zero Hour's latest, SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND, and I still can't explain why I did it. As you know, my review of one of their earliest albums, METAMORPHOSIS, wasn't really a flattering one, and I gave the album just one star for what I deemed as the absolute lack of musical coherence I had ever found in a record up to that date. Things haven't really changed that much since that day. It's not that now I love that album, I still find it segmented and lacking direction, and I still find the singer that performed there annoying. But, I don't know why, somehow I found a copy of this latest release in a record store, and I just couldn't stop the impulse to buy it, to give ZH a second chance, so to speak. My relation with Fates Warning had, I think, much to do with the decision: that was a band I used to dislike, with a singer I used to despise, both of which now I like and a lot; FW's music is a clear influence in Zero Hour's sound; so, it was only logical that I though that maybe, maybe things would also change with regards to this San Francisco outfit. That's my only possible explanation as to my purchase, and now that I've actually listened to the CD more than a couple of times, I think it would be fair of me to give my opinion on a band I once categorized as music for "octopus lovers".

I still can't say that I LOVE this band, but at least now I can listen to the album without ever wondering what the hell am I doing listening or it or what the heck were these guys in ZH thinking when they recorded it. I can distinguish some structures here, I can hear some bits that resemble a melody there, I can finally understand that this music has a purpose. In SOPBB (the title is too long to write), Zero Hour has created a collection of very heavy, very difficult, very complex technical progressive metal. Unlike the only album that I had heard of them until this one, here we have coherent songs. Another element that didn't exist in METAMORPHOSIS that I can see now is, as I already said, melody, although it still isn't this band's specialty (nor, I guess, are they really interested on it, as this is not music meant to be melodic.) The music still sounds like a very technical version of Fates Warning with some elements by other bands, but that's the main influence without any doubt. Zero Hour is a progressive-metal band that listened to Cynic and Fates Warning much more so than they did Dream Theater or Symphony X, and it clearly shows. Their music isn't as technical as Spiral Architect, but it's much more complex (in the technical sense) than most average metal bands. In the final track of the album we can even hear some Meshuggah-like riffs, a detail that can surely tell you how heavy and aggressive ZH's music has turned out to be.

I have to mention the change in vocals, as it's one of the key reasons for the improvement that I've detected in this band. Chris Salinas is really a fantastic singer, much in the vein of Ray Alder but even more so in the style of Queensryche's Geoff Tate. Salinas is a versatile singer, going from the metal, screaming approach to the more calmed, restrained mood in a matter of seconds, and he's also capable of some drama, some theatricality, something that's very hard to find in Fates-Warning- influenced singers.

Face the Fear (8/10) The very rhythmical start a la Cynic (and also a la Primus, to be honest) leads to a zigzagging riff that goes upwards, goes down and immediately climbs again. A quiet section that sounds a lot like Fates Warning interrupts the insanity attack. It's worth mentioning the good work by the bass player, one of the highlights in an already very technical band. Madness strikes again, Salinas sounds more Tate-like than ever, the riff sounds like it came from a sick mind, from a complete paranoid person. The song is long but goes by very quickly. The quiet section returns, and the song nears its end. The guitar riff grows more relentless, it seems it will never stop. One of the best songs ever by Zero Hour (which, coming from me, it's not saying much, as I've only heard one other album besides this one).

The Falcon's Cry (8.5/10) The heaviness is evident, imposing. I don't like the singing that much when Salinas almost shrieks trying to reach impossible notes. Another insanity-driven riff of pure rhythmical interest, hardly any melodic one. This album is really a chant for crazy, mentally-derailed people, as the riffs are this close to be perfect portraits of a nervous and mental breakdown. And, as with every insane person, anger is followed by quiet and even beauty. A peaceful part sung by Salinas who sounds 95% like Geoff Tate, only much more schizophrenic. Interesting. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm hearing good music! This section is truly the best part of the album, as is this song, the best I've ever heard from this San Francisco group. Incredible: 8 minutes that go by like 4, unlike in METAMORPHOSIS where the exact opposite was the truth.

Embrace (8/10) The "Believe It or Not" reality we're living continues, as we face an instrumental of decent melodic value! This is only guitars and more guitars, in an interesting texturing exercise, with Salinas harmonizing in the rear background. Short but good.

Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond (6.5/10) It was too good to be true. The violence starts again with a riff that crushes like heavy machinery. Sadly, the singing ruins the main verse. Yes, the same singing I was applauding moments ago it's the cause for problems here. I just can't take those ultra-high shrieks a la Judas Priest or King Diamond. The music is too neurotic, too epileptic to be liked by me. In this song, the death of melody has been produced again. I can't lie and say this guys can't play, but this track, though far from atrocious (an adjective I recurrently used when reviewing their third album), is just too chaotic for me.

Zero Hour (7.5/10) The riff is interesting but it seems like we've heard it before. Guitar and bass playing are of the highest quality, and the drummer is quite a virtuoso, too. A rather noisy track that is short and concise, and just because of that, it works. Yes, there's no melody in here but when melody-less, rhythm-oriented, odd-time-signature written pieces last only 2 minutes, I can very easily digest them, and I even welcome them!

I Am Here (7.5/10) Clean-guitar arpeggios and melodic singing? We're in Ripley's land again. A good moment of peace and relaxation before the carnage that is about to come. Good, if not brilliant, little acoustic song. Great singing by Salinas.

Evidence of the Unseen (6.5/10) This starts so quietly, just a murmur. We know only cannibalism can lie behind such noise. The riff is another hymn to insanity, straight from the sanitarium, complete with dissonances and odd-time signatures that would make Meshuggah's members quite proud. The riff is just too savage, too terrorizing. Melody has died. But then a quiet, almost atmospheric (yes, I said that) section gives us a second to catch our breath. It doesn't last long and the guitar-engine is at it again. Then another quiet section. The song continues like that all the way to the end. It's not a bad track but it's just too much of a massacre for my taste.

As a final comment, let me say that I'd given this album 4 stars were it not for the two ultra-violent tracks that I've rated with 6.5/10. I have to give credit where credit is due: Zero Hour is a good band that could be even better, for my tastes, if they added a little more melody to their music. But for fans of this kind of metal, I'm telling you, the album will probably be something of a masterpiece for you.

Not recommend for: fans of melodic metal; people that dislike metal in general. Most of all, people that NEED melody in their music.

Recommended for: technical-progressive metal fans; fans of Zero Hour; fans of Cynic, Meshuggah, Spiral Architect, among others.Oh, yes, and Geoff Tate's fans.

.Chris Salinas is the best Geoff Tate I've ever heard.

This is my third review on Zero Hour. I find this album good but, i don't think this is their best , i'm choosing The Towers of Avarice to be the best Zero Hour album, and the most complete and inovative of their works so far. The new voice Chris Salinas (third), is not bad but has not the power and technique like Eric Rosvold (the best), sometimes is like Geoff Tate. I'm enjoying very much this band, so i rate this album 3 stars. Maybe next time will be a better one, that doesn't mean this one is weak, but has not the same value like Towers and Fragile Mind. Recommended to anyone interested into the more technical nature of progressive metal, some similar bands Sieges Even, Spiral Architect, and even Fates Warning. 3 stars

Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond is the fourth full-length studio album by American progressive metal act Zero Hour. The album was released in 2006 through Sensory Records. For the second album in a row the band has changed lead vocalist as Fred Marshall who sang on A Fragile Mind (2005) has been replaced with ex-Power of Omens vocalist Chris Salinas. As I was not very happy about Fred Marshall´s voice and vocal style on A Fragile Mind I was really excited about the prospect of a new lead singer in Zero Hour. As it turns out my expectations that a new vocalist would bring back some of the magic from the Erik Rosvold ( the first lead vocalist in Zero Hour) days, are fully met.

The music is technical progressive metal. Zero Hour is one of the few bands in the genre who has a very unique and easily recognizable style IMO. Lots of fast chromatic runs in unusual time signatures but with memorable and melodic vocal lines to bring some dynamic and accessibility into an otherwise very dark, heavy and challenging soundscape. New lead vocalist Chris Salinas is a great asset to the band´s sound IMO. His voice is very similar to the voice of Ray Alder ( Fates Warning, Engine, Redemption) which might be a problem for some but isn´t for me. The man can´t help being born with a voice that happens to be very similar to the voice of someone else ( I wish I was born with a voice like that) and his performance on this album is impeccable. A very skilled vocalist.

There are seven tracks on the album. All excellent technical progressive metal songs ( well there´s one ballad too). Songs like Face the Fear ( OK I have to admit that when Chris Salinas starts singing in this song it does sound just a bit too much like Fates Warning), The Falcon´s Cry and Evidence of the Unseen are prime examples of why Zero Hour is one of the most succesful bands in the genre.

The musicianship is excellent. Lots of challenging playing and a unique approach to writing music.

The production is excellent too. very professional and well sounding.

Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond is a great return to form for Zero Hour and while the album doesn´t quite reach the heights of my favorite by the band The Towers of Avarice (2001), I still find it to be an excellent technical progressive metal album fully deserving a 4 star rating.

Zero Hour is a progressive metal band formed by twin brothers Jasun and Troy Tipton in California back in 1993. I came across the band after reading about the release of their forth (or third) album Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond and being overwhelmed by all the positive reviews that the album had received from both critics and fans. I decided to dive into this album head first, assuming that this would be something along the lines of Dream Theater and Riverside, two bands I was listening a lot to back then. Well, it's been almost five years since I've heard this album and that's a pretty hefty timespan for an album to sit on a shelf and collect dust. So what's my reasoning behind completely abandoning this release after only a few spins back in the day?

Although I still haven't experienced any of Zero Hour's previous records, I guess that the addition of Chris Salinas was a pretty excellent one since he brings quite a lot of character to this otherwise pretty generic progressive metal release. My main problem here is the songwriting which just sounds too much like a product of the early '90s progressive metal school of Fates Warning or Queensrÿche, rather than that of 2006! I mean, it's one thing to release an album like this in 1996, just when the early progressive scene was beginning to evolve, and a completely different one releasing it in 2006! I've never been a huge fan of regressive metal (aka retro prog metal), especially when it references the not so glamorous beginnings of progressive metal genre. The style and melodies are very generic and it almost feels like the band members are painting their music collage by numbers, instead of working out how they can enhance their work and bring something new and original to their established sound. There's honestly not a single standout moment all throughout these seven compositions which is probably why I never cared to give it another spin after hearing it a few times back in 2006/2007.

I'm sure that fans of the early progressive metal will find something to enjoy on Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond, since Zero Hour stays very true to that concept, with the exception of the sound enhancement of the 2006 sound mixing which sounds miles beyond anything that was released by metal bands in the late '80s/early '90s. Personally, I feel that the terrible sound of the past recordings have not been as much of an issue for me as long as long as the recording has a personality of it's own and some metal riffs to back it up! This is the main my reasoning behind such a poor rating that's being awarded here.

**** star songs: Face The Fear (9:00) Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond (7:36)

*** star songs: The Falcon's Cry (8:01) Embrace (2:25) Zero Hour (2:28) I Am Here (4:59) Evidence Of The Unseen (8:44)