SPECS OF PICTURES BURNT BEYOND
Zero Hour
•Progressive Metal
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Studio Album, released in 2006 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Face the Fear (9:00) - Jasun Tipton / guitar CD Sensory Records #3034 (2006) Thanks to TheProgtologist for the additionand to ProgLucky for the last updates Edit this entry |
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ZERO HOUR Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond ratings distribution
(54 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(31%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(46%)
Good, but non-essential (15%)
Collectors/fans only (7%)
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
ZERO HOUR Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
PROG REVIEWER

"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.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

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.
PROG REVIEWER

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

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.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Metal Team

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)
Latest members reviews
This is the first album I have heard from Zero Hour. Although I liked it quite a bit, I don't really feel that I have all that much to say about it. Since I started writing this review though, I'll try to put my thoughts into words anyway. ;)
First off, it's a very good album of melodic progressi
... (read more)
Report this review (#803469) | Posted by FunkyM | Sunday, August 12, 2012 | Review Permanlink
Zeros Hour's latest album 'Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond' is, along with Mastodon's
Blood Mountain, the best album of 2006. This album was my introduction to Zero Hour.
It is great to hear technical and complex music such as this, which follows in the
tradition of Watchtower and Psychotic Wal
... (read more)
Report this review (#108099) | Posted by Hrvat | Saturday, January 20, 2007 | Review Permanlink
(First of all, I am NOT plagerizing. This review was originally written for metal-
archives.com) Now that I got that off my chests... on to the review.
Ahem...
Zero Hour has quickly become one of my favorite prog bands of the past several years.
The level of musicianship is exemplary. The p
... (read more)
Report this review (#108023) | Posted by Salvation Now | Friday, January 19, 2007 | Review Permanlink
This is the first album I got from this band, and I must say, it's a good one. The music is a
combination of Dream Theater and Fates Warning with their own twist. The voice comes
close to an early Geoff Tate (Queensryche). Stable with a high pitch. If you are a fan off
the three named bands, y
... (read more)
Report this review (#104328) | Posted by Hét LICHAAM | Sunday, December 24, 2006 | Review Permanlink
Oh finally some great and true progressive metal ... I´m really tired from many releases
which are rated as a progressive metal but in a fact they have nothing to do with such a
great style as a progressive metal is...
Zero Hour has made a big step forward from their latest album, I can´t say
... (read more)
Report this review (#95233) | Posted by | Friday, October 20, 2006 | Review Permanlink
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