Diablo Blvd - Zero Hour (2017)

If Mr. Olsen’s quote proves true, then Diablo Blvd’s upcoming fourth album Zero Hour is a perfect musical adaptation of the troubled times we live in. Frenetic. Dark. Brutally frank. Relentless. In the words of front man Alex Agnew, the album is the “…soundtrack for the End Times!”

Zero Hour opens with accusatory “Animal” and is followed up with the fast paced “Sing From The Gallows.” “Life Amounts To Nothing” and “God In The Machine” are up next with heavy bass and headbanging beats.

The ride continues as Diablo Blvd cuts left with a guttural tribal beat in “You Are All You Love” and then swerves right back to an almost throwback electronic sound in “The Song Is Over.”

Things take an unexpected turn with the single strum intro to title track “00:00.” The acoustic melody and eventual addition of low strings create a haunting but brief respite from the otherwise high energy experience.

The break is over with “Like Rats” and fans of long guitar riffs will enjoy the heavier turn of “Demonize.” Wrapping things up are “The Future Will Do What Its Told” and “The Summer Has Gone.”

Zero Hour is obvious in its political statement, intended to call out the hypocrisy and influence of global institutions such as church, media and politics. The mix of musical elements: a slice of metal, the punch of hard rock, a sliver of electronic sound, all come together to create a unique signature that is at once nostalgic and new. Agnew leads the way without being heavy handed and the sound is balanced with melody and (surprise!) the occasional harmony that is sometimes goes missing in metal.

If Zero Hour is your first taste of Diablo Blvd, as it was mine, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll be out exploring what else they have to offer and looking forward to hearing them live.

TRACKLIST

01. Animal
02. Sing From The Gallows
03. Life Amounts To Nothing
04. God in The Machine
05. You Are All You Love
06. The Song is Over
07. 00:00
08. Like Rats
09. Demonize
10. The Future Will Do What It's Told
11. Summer Has Gone