Long-running California Progressive Metal icons Zero Hour present their new EP, “No Man’s Land.”
Zero Hour’s new studio EP “No Man’s Land” sees the revered band’s incredibly technical and dynamic prowess put on full display, as expected from this top-tier musical collective. “No Man’s Land” features original members, guitarist Jasun Tipton and vocalist Erik Rosvold, joined by newer members, bassist Andreas Blomqvist and keyboardist Jeremy Villucci. Roel van Helden was acquired as a session drummer for this new chapter for Zero Hour.
“No Man’s Land” delivers two new songs — “Codes Of Violence” and “No Man’s Land,” as well as instrumental versions of both tracks — marking another bold installment in the band’s impeccable catalog. Recorded by the band, with the drums recorded by Kai Stahlenberg at Kohlekeller Studio, the EP was mixed and mastered by Matt LaPlant at Madtown Mix Studio and completed with brilliant artwork by Wayne Joyner (Dream Theater, Ayreon, Devin Townsend).
Jasun Tipton writes about “Codes Of Violence,” the first preview of the record: “The guys and I are very, very excited for the listeners to hear No Man’s Land. Erik, Andreas, and Roel absolutely bring it on ‘Codes Of Violence’ and ‘No Man’s Land.’ The two tracks each clock over thirteen minutes long. The material is very dynamic, heavy, and dreamy, with plenty of twists and turns. We added keyboardist Jeremy Villucci whose performance takes the material to another level.”
Stream Zero Hour’s “Codes Of Violence” now on Bandcamp HERE and YouTube:
Zero Hour will independently release “No Man’s Land” on CD and digitally through their own independent label, CynNormal Lab Recordings, on October 16th. Pre-Orders can be placed HERE.
Tracklist:
01. Codes Of Violence
02. No Man’s Land
03. Codes Of Violence (instrumental)
04. No Man’s Land (instrumental)
Originally formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in the ’90s by Jasun Tipton and his brother Troy, Zero Hour was formed to create Heavy, Melodic, Dark, and intricate music with influences from diverse influences like the Dio-led years of Rainbow, The Pat Metheny Group, and Dream Theater. The band released six studio albums from 1998 to 2008. The first two — “Zero Hour” (1998) and “The Towers Of Avarice” (2001) were self-released, while the next four — Metamorphosis (2003), “A Fragile Mind” (2005), “Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond” (2006), and “Dark Deceiver” (2008) — were all released under the Sensory Records of the vast The Laser’s Edge Group.
Zero Hour dissolved after the release of “Dark Deceiver,” when Troy Tipton suffered an arm injury that prevented him from playing bass. After Jasun Tipton and vocalist Erik Rosvold reunited the group, they recruited drummer Roel van Helden. The two became friends when Roel’s group at the time, Sun Caged, and Zero Hour played a gig as direct support for Liquid Tension Experiment. They stayed in contact, and years later, they reconnected overseas and chatted about making music together. Van Helden was then instrumental in bringing Andreas Blomqvist into the lineup, having known him in his prior band, Seventh Wonder. This lineup would then construct the return album, “Agenda 21,” released through Frontiers Records in 2022, and now, arrives with the immersive “No Man’s Land,” opening the next chapter of Zero Hour’s ongoing saga.
Lineup:
Jasun Tipton / Guitars
Erik Rosvold / Vocals
Andreas Blomqvist / Bass
Jeremy Villucci / Keyboards
Roel van Helden / Drums