Like a slap from nowhere, this EP starts with a bang. The intensity begins as soon as you hit play on the first song of this release by the Dutch outfit Zubzero.
These guys describe their genre as “straight in your face metal/hardcore”, and there could not be a truer statement. The EP is deeply rooted in hardcore influence, using its different currents, from NY hardcore to more modern movements, notably in the vocal work, where you can even hear some attempted pig squeals on the first track, “Aftermath”. It does feel fitting, as the song tackles a dystopian future and the impending doom of the human race.
They do not only eat and digest all genres of hardcore, they also incorporate remnants of hardcore derivatives, such as newer groove-based styles, with elements of tribal metal and low-tuned riffs that feel very close to late 90s Sepultura or Ektomorf.
While the EP is filled with groovy parts that will definitely make crowds bounce up and down like maggots and throw punches at each other, it feels like the band might, at times, fall into the trap of being so hell-bent on finding the bouncy, catchy groove that it becomes overdone.
Relentless and in your face throughout, the EP’s strongest point might also do it a disservice, as you do not have many reference points for where it starts and where it ends. That being said, this is a genre that incites chaos in the pit, thrives on anarchy and defies all rules and customs, including musical ones. It therefore remains consistent with the genre’s identity.
In the same mood, sonically, the opus is raw and very organic. The drums sound natural, and the guitar tones are fuzzy and greasy. There is also a feeling of spontaneity, as if the musicians recorded their takes once and never looked back. This helps cement the raw and organic sound, but leaves you wanting a little more tightness in the sound and precision in the execution.
Buy/Stream Perverseverance on Bandcamp.
