Hailing from the Swiss city of Basel, Zeal & Ardor are an Alternative Metal act that have always well and truly had a sound of their own. Initially, a one-man studio project from the extraordinary musical architect Manuel Gagneux, Zeal & Ardor dropped into our speakers with thei debut album Devil Is Fine in 2016. Providing a highly experimental blend of Black Metal and Delta Blues, before exploring the sound further two years later with record number two – Stranger Fruit.
With the opportunity to play the prestigious Dutch Roadburn Festival in 2017, Gagnuex put together a band including two backing singers, and Zeal & Ardor became an impressive live entity. The third self-titled album arrived in 2022, with Gagnuex once again going solo in the studio. And the record propelled them to the next level, with strong press support and successful tours, including a notable European run in support of the mighty Meshuggah.
And stylistically it seems that the highly rated third album may have somewhat completed an initial trilogy for the Zeal & Ardor sound, as there is a definite through-line which connects the music released across those first six years. And well with Greif (Self-Released) – it seems like there has been a real evolutionary shift in their songwriting, and a change of gear in their recording career.
To put it simply, Greif is a masterclass in eclecticism. A creative journey with seemingly no boundaries set by Gagneux, who for the first time also invited his touring bandmates into the studio to record with him. The production is absolutely top-notch, with each instrument toned to perfection. Especially noticeable with the sound of the bass, which pulsates delectably throughout.
There are a number of fine songs on Grief. “Fend You Off” contrasts a twinkling glockenspiel with crunching guitars, and has a huge chorus with soaring vocals from Gagneux. While the likes of “Diease,” “Thrill” and “Sugarcoat” bleed in a more commercial sound, similar to the likes of Royal Blood and The Black Keys. However, Zeal & Ardor manage to journey through many different musical plains with Grief, and also deliver utter darkness and aggression on “Clawing Out.” Alongside an intoxicating blend of the light and dark on, “are you the only one now” – which contrasts a lush clean vocal melody with ferocious Blackened screams.
The record does occasionally dip back to the classic feel of their first three albums, where they heavily incorporated a sound derivative of old African-Amercan folk music. “Go Home My Friend,” “369,” and “Hide in Shade” all reintroduce the style, with the latter providing ferocious blasts of Black Metal into the mix.
Elsewhere Zeal & Ardor experiment and genre-bend like never before, stripping back on the stuttered rhythm and machine-funk of “Kilnova.” And providing a Stranger Things-esq synth palate cleanser, on “Une ville vide.” With “Solace,” they provide a thoroughly brooding and melancholic song, built around a sombre piano with vocals including; “There is solace and hope in the end of your rope, to be sharp as a blade when the life starts to fade” that really hit a nerve. This song builds beautifully to a full on a cinematic climax, before the record closes out with the melodic and soft ‘To my ilk.’
With Grief, Zeal & Ardor are almost certainly going to continue building on their previous success. Beginning to deviate from the style and sound which had peaked on their incredible 2022 album, and now completely ripping open their own rule book, to provide something extraordinarily fresh and exciting.
Buy the album here:
https://www.zealandardor.com/
9 / 10
ABSTRAKT_SOUL