ZeTa – Binary Enigma
Release Date: 2nd September 2022
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Experimental Black, Death Metal.
FFO: Death, Entombed, Grave.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Binary Enigma is the title of the debut album by multi-state US band ZeTa. Featuring lyrics based on documented UFO encounters and all things extra-terrestrial and a sound that is described as being influenced by, ‘classic 90s Swedish melodic black/death metal, American death metal both past and present, and the Metroid video game series’, it is only natural to have high hopes.
The 9-track album includes 2 instrumental bookends starting and ending the album, so what we essentially have is 7 relatively brutal tracks. First thing to notice is that the vocalist, Dan Klein, has a superb set of lungs on him. His dirty vocals give a credence to the album that helps it rise above its deficiencies.
I should, however, put things into context. Binary Enigma is self-released. There is no label behind this, no big-name producer with their name splattered all over the release, so any implied criticism needs to take this into account.
First, a few other good points. There are a handful of tracks in here that will really get your heart pumping. Riffs that go on for days, coupled with the aforementioned excellent vocals that almost, but not quite, get stuck in your head. The problem is that the tracks on the album are one-dimensional and lack variation, with no perceived difference in the tempo of the tracks.
‘Much like the early 90’s Death Metal they are influenced by’ I hear you cry. Well yes, but unfortunately Death Metal has moved on. You don’t hear modern Cannibal Corpse with ropey production, (as featured on Binary Enigma – It could have been recorded in the 80’s), although this is perhaps why they refer to themselves as being experimental black/death. However, the modern Black/Death Metal fan is spoiled, and so this could be a reason why ZeTa may struggle with this album.
That said, there are fans of old school death metal that will absolutely love this album, those who think that all Death Metal should still sound like this and that the modern stuff is too clean, too polite. It isn’t for the old school Black Metal fan, as there is no Satan in space, it would appear!
If this is the direction that ZeTa are striving for, then they have hit the ball out of the park.
(3 / 5)
