Zero Hour
The Towers Of Avarice

It was tough, but I did it; I managed to find this CD on the internet, which I had read so much about but couldn't get my hands on. Zero Hour is a progressive technical metal band from the Bay Area of San Francisco, a region famous for other types of bands... This "The Towers Of Avarice" is their second full-length album, following their self-titled debut two years earlier. The precise genre of this album is unique: if you place "Metropolis Part II" by Dream Theater on one side and "A Sceptic's Universe" by Spiral Architect on the other, Zero Hour falls towards the center, slightly tilted towards the Norwegian band. In fact, there's a lot of technical metal in this album, evidenced by the prevalence of non-melodic and very experimental sounds. However, what brings the band back towards more classic prog shores is their ability to break the rougher atmospheres with slower, more digestible interludes and a very classic voice. The sounds are quite direct; the guitars stand out with their hard, slightly dirty gain, contrasting with a very clean bass sound (yet prominently highlighted by the deliberately high recording volume); the drums have very processed sounds, similar to those of "Images And Words" by Dream Theater.

The concept behind this work is characteristic, and it's hard for me to summarize it in a few words, so I'll borrow someone else's definition (skillfully translated by yours truly =D): "A concept that talks about people fighting against oppression in a dystopian future governed by an oligarchy." Perhaps not too original, but effective. The main merit of this music is to convey a strong sense of tension, sometimes diminished by the aforementioned changes in climax, but always ready to reappear with the sharp rhythms of the musicians' work.

In summary, it's not an easy album, suitable for ears already accustomed to this genre of music. Despite the scant melody, it reveals a good compositional taste, along with the undeniable technical quality of the band. Recommended for enthusiasts and the curious.