Zoetrope
A Life Of Crime

Zoetrope is the name of a short music video, derived from a story by Franz Kafka, which inspired this Thrash combo (BNR-Metal Pages) from Chicago in choosing their moniker; a group formed in 1977 that debuted in 1985 after several demo tapes with "Amnesty". The band is almost unknown to the general public despite Barry Stern (R.i.p.), the drummer-singer-founder, having played on the self-titled album of fellow Chicagoans Trouble in 1990 (appearing on the cover) and on the subsequent "Manic Frustration" of 1992, but then disappearing from the main scene.

"A Life Of Crime", released in 1987, is an excellent album straddling Heavy and Thrash Metal, where the Hardcore oxygen is strongly in the spotlight, especially in the buzzing guitars, not as pronounced as in other bands, although the drumming speed is maintained with attractive guitar solos. One remains a bit dazed & confused at the sight of the cover: the cardboard casing represents the bars of a jail where the four faces of our Zoetrope alternate with those of Al Capone and his gang. Just flip the inner sleeve and in the four holes of the cardboard appear the faces of the gangsters/defenders; to this is added the explanation of the name of the band on the cover (pronounced "Etrop") as happened with the debut of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Zoetrope themselves define their sound on the back cover: Hardcore-Street-Metal. A group similar in approach to Nuclear Assault, I would dare to say, but one that was born before them. We discover songs of great impact like the hectic opening track "Detention" dominated by Stern's fast drumming, devoid of accentuated technicalities, with inspired strummings, a "hit and run" solo, and Stern's own voice similar to that of John Connelly (www.raw&wild.com).

Excellent "Promiscuity", engaging and energetic, where the drumming is breathless but gains even more speed at a certain point in the song, making it a mad rush, a factor already experimented by Chris Reifert in the debut of Death: the song is "Baptized In Blood". "Scream Bloody Gore" was released in May 1987, produced by Randy Burns, while "A Life Of Crime" saw the light in the autumn of 1987, still under the aegis of Randy Burns. Coincidence or the same modus operandi? "Seeking Asylum" is more traditionally Heavy metal in the guitar phrases, with a great solo tour de force by the two guitarists, truly inspired. Louie Svitek, after this album, will play in Billy Milano's M.O.D. and later in Mindfunk. "Nasa" is a slow and catchy song, with words of anger against space accidents, featuring a muscular sound. In the second part of the album, we find great compositional variety with "Prohibition", very fast and with two whirlwind solos that hit the ears; "Pickpocket" stands out for a beautiful and decidedly captivating riff that opens the violent sonata, accelerating the pace at each chorus, then Calvin Willis' bass is left alone with the drums before the playful tempo change, greeting a sad and evocative guitar until the final sprint with the two axes in unison.

"The Company Man" starts off full throttle with an ordinary solo broken by the cadenced tempo change, featuring a refined carillon-metal work on one side and a stuttering guitar on the other. A piece that is undoubtedly original. A particular mention goes to Barry Stern, who manages, despite his raw and raucous voice, to give a certain breath to the songs. A phantom album and group that deserve to be rediscovered like Blind Illusion and Exorcist.