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Zoroaster - Voice of Saturn
Review by HeavyThisAxe (StonerRock.com)
Terminal Doom Records
Release date: 2009
The last time fans of all things heavy heard from Zoroaster was on the widely acclaimed Dog Magic, which showcased the Southern-friend sludge trio’s oppressive density, their occasional forays into the realm of experimentation, and an ability to lock into a nasty groove for prolonged periods of time without boring listeners to tears. For the most part, the far too brief follow up, Voice of Saturn, picks up where Dog Magic left off.
Standouts “Spirit Molecule” and “White Dwarf” are lumbering monsters that lock in early and are anchored by the monolithic drumming, chest rattling bass, menacing vocals and well-executed surprises that listeners have come to expect from Zoroaster.
Smack dab in the middle of the otherwise rumbling “Spirit Molecule” comes a lengthy piano section. But this is no "Piano Man" tribute, as evidenced by the return of the guitar and drums within a minute of its commencement. Such a section could have become a royal mess in the hands of lesser bands, but Zoroaster’s commitment to the groove overcame any temptation to meander too far into shoegaze territory.
Album highlight “White Dwarf” features Mastodon axe slinger Brent Hinds, whose initial psych-tinged playing hovers in the background of a locked in thunderous groove. However, a thrashy breakdown in the song’s final two minutes signals a shift that propels clearer, albeit frenetic, soloing to the forefront alongside the groove and leaves the listener feeling crushed but reaching for the repeat button.
Album closer “Lamen of the Master Therion” and the 14-minute slow burner “Undying” are not to be overlooked. Whereas “Undying” slowly uncoils on the strength of a doom-laden central riff, the closer features a foreboding militaristic tempo, another patently Zoroastrian riff and ominous screams of “CHAOS!” that serve as a fitting synopsis for the accompanying music.
For a band with a sound as oppressive as Zoroaster, it was surprising to hear a few aimless detours into the experimental weeds on Voice of Saturn. Don’t get me wrong - when Zoroaster keeps the guitars and drums cooking behind such detours, as evidenced on “Spirit Molecule” and “Undying,” it oftentimes works. However, it amounted to buzz kill on the title track and most of the final hidden track (sans primal drumming).
Taken as a whole, Voice of Saturn has just four songs that listeners can really sink their teeth into, but each song illustrates, in its own unique way, why Zoroaster is highly regarded. One can only hope this talented trio focuses on the meat and potatoes of those four tracks as they move forward and leave extraneous post-metal garnishments to lesser bands. These gents aren't post-metal, they’re primordial metal, and they have the talent and a sound that could allow them to chart a course of their own choosing.
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