We’ve sung the praises of the Chicago metal scene for a while now; there appears to be a current of energy running through that part of the States and it’s bringing us plenty of great music. It seems to be specifically fertile in the areas of instrumental post rock/metal and interesting experimentation within those genres, with bands like Outrun the Sunlight and Sioum released their fair share of evocative music. It appears there’s now another name to be ended to the roster, Zaius. These guys are getting to release their debut album, Of Adoration, via Prosthetic Records on October 6, 2017 and let me tell you, it’s damn good. But why take my word on it? Head on below to hear a track from the very same album!
“Sheepdog” is a great single to release; it has all the key elements which make Zaius work, neatly displayed for the listener. First, that gorgeous artwork; I really can’t overstate how much I love the cover art for this album. Second, the expansive and rich melodies which make up the core of the track supported, thirdly, by the extremely competent groove section. All in all, you have the making of what’s starting to look like the “classic” Chicago metal scene sound, leaning heavily on atmosphere and rich tones. Another great trait of this scene is that they always seem to fill the “meta” of the music with lots of sincerity and emotion. Check out what Guitarist Ian McConnell had to say about the track:
“‘Sheepdog’ was a random working title that wouldn’t go away for whatever reason, so we stuck with it. In retrospect, it’s meaning, “a protector”, has a lot to do with the vibe of the song and record as a whole so maybe it was a subconscious thing all along.”
Long story short, if you’re hankering for that complex yet atmospheric vibe, you need look no further than Zaius. They should keep us well sated until the time another release from the Chicago scene creeps along; hopefully that happens sooner rather than later. Until then, don’t forget to pre-order Zaius’s Of Adoration right here; you won’t regret it.