Channel Zero, one of the finest things to come out of Belgium after strong alcohol and chocolates are back with a brand new album. After calling it a day in 1997 and then reforming again in 2008 due to popular demand, the Belgian groove-laden thrashers release their 6th studio album “Kill all Kings” with a backdrop sadness around them due to the passing of their long time drummer Phil B in August 2013. Spurred on by his passion and desire, the band entered the studio and commenced recording with Roy Magoya taking the sticks on studio duty.
“Dark Passenger” opens the song with a mood-building intro, gradually increasing in noise, intensity and groove before it kicks it up a gear with a simple, yet driving feel. The vocals are delivered with power as the song continues with its thrash-like feel. The chorus has an almost anthemic-ring to it with the lead melody and the powerfully sung vocals. The solo twists and turns its way through the song, mirroring the vocal melody at times and it is laced with intricate guitar work, it’s a solid start to the album. “Electronic Cocaine” is the next track and the press-release pack highlights this as the stand out track. It starts off with a Prong styled feel to it, slow and precise with a thick guitar sound. The lyrics are a stab at society’s dependence on technology and social media and the power they are delivered with is full of emotion. The song continues at a slow paced groove with a big sound in the chorus and it’s easy to see why the label said to check this song out – it’s delivered brilliantly.
“Burn the Nation” starts off with a thrash feel to it. The faster pace and head-bang along groove gets you from the intro. With the raw vocal delivery and the tight rhythm section, it keeps your attention. The breakdown section in the middle of the song would work excellent in a live setting and the solo which follows it flows nicely, not going off on a tangent to the rest of the song. “Digital Warfare” kicks off with a catchy lead lick which descends back into the full on groove. The vocals keep the raw sound and the venom they are delivered with works like a charm over the hard sounding groove. The melodic solo adds a little flavour to the track too for good measure. “Ego” starts off with a simplistic intro which builds the atmosphere first. A slow paced groove with cleanly sung vocals show another side to Frankie’s talents as he kicks it up with a Testament styled delivery in the choruses. “Crimson Colidor” is up next and it starts off with a thrash like feel once again. Roy’s drumming is fantastic as it helps build the song up more with the simple beat. The stripped down rhythm with the simple lead lines over it adds to the song but overall, it’s just a generic track which picks up well in the chorus where everything just seems to click for it.
The title track is up next and it starts with a dramatic introduction of guitar and drums which has a sense of urgency about it. The feel from the intro runs throughout the song as the vocals are delivered in short bursts for the verses and with power in the choruses whilst the band behind keeps the tight groove. One nice little touch is the almost Arnold Schwarzenegger styled “Do it Now” lyric, whether this was intentional or just an accident we won’t know, but it works well enough. As a title track, it’s a solid song and it shows what the band are, a well oiled groove machine. “Brother’s Keeper” starts off clean with a simplistic stripped back approach. The clean tones and passionate singing give this song a darker edge than the rest of the album and the lead guitar work adds to the poignant atmosphere of the song. “Army of Bugs” kicks it back to the groove metal feel. The pounding bass-line and thick guitars underneath the venomously delivered lyrics give this song an angrier edge which stays steady during the song. The slower pace gives it a heavier feeling and this continues into the following track, “Mind Over Mechanics”. This starts off with a full speed assault as soon as the verse kicks in. The fast paced aggressive feel added to the massive-sounding chorus makes the song stand out compared to some of the previous tracks.
“Duisternis” (Darkness) is the second to last track of the album and it is sung in a mixture of Dutch and English. It’s a full on thrash assault with a relentless groove to it and a hard hitting edge The pounding drums drag you through the song whilst the heavy guitars will get you banging your head along. “Heart Stop” is the final track of the album and it starts off slower paced. The vocals are cleanly delivered over the song with raw emotion and power whilst the rest of the band plays a catchy and simple backing piece. It comes across as the most radio friendly song of the album but given the title and the emotion running through it, the track could also be a tribute to their fallen band mate. The melodic solo near the end of the song, combined with the powerful vocals wraps up the feeling in this track and it closes the album well.
Overall, this is a good solid metal album with plenty of groove and thrash to satisfy your needs. The tracks which add the emotion to it help add some variety for the listener but the first half of the album is definitely stronger than the second half. If you like groove and thrash, check it out.
(7/10 Fraggle)
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