Zero Hour - Dark Deceiver
Sensory Records
Dark Technical Progressive Metal
9 songs (44'43)
Release year: 2008
Zero Hour, Sensory Records
Reviewed by Marty
Zero Hour, lead by the brother combo of Jason (guitars/ keyboards) and Troy (bass) Tipton has built up a reputation as being a very talented progressive metal band and virtual veterans of the U.S. prog metal scene with 5 albums released to date. Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond, released in 2006 saw the debut of new vocalist Chris Salinas (ex-Power Of Omens) who is the third frontman in this band's history. For those not familiar with Zero Hour, picture a darker, more technical version of Dream Theater, add a dose of abstract Queensryche Rage For Order influences; mix in a little of the 90's era Fates Warning and top it off with the technical wizardry and weirdness of King Crimson.

Zero Hour is a band that bombards the listener with endless guitar/bass scale runs with the vocals of Chris Salinas added more as an instrument rather than offering the listener any sort of hook or melody to compliment the song. The opening four tracks Power To Believe, the title track Dark Deceiver, Inner Spirit and Resurrection all share very similar scale run-laden guitar riffing and a very chunky and abstract heaviness. In fact, the guitar parts for several of these tracks are so similar that I had to keep going back to make sure that I hadn't heard this before. Quieter, clean guitar laden passages often break up the barrage of technical riffing and odd time signature "noodling", offering a nice break in the action. The use of synthesized vocal effects and very theatrical Geoff Tate vocal techniques adds an ominous tone to several tracks with others featuring some higher pitched Halford like screams. The Temple Within is a great example of the Geoff Tate style of using "character" voices that range from whispery tones to gut wrenching emotional wails. The speedy, muted, dark and heavy riffing on this track gets a nice boost with the passionate vocals and a more sense of melody especially for the last half of the song. The Passion Of Words continues with the heavy, passionate and abstract tone yet with more of a Nevermore flavour. Tendonitis sees Troy Tipton offering a little exercise in fret board gymnastics and the album closer Severed Angel uses wild riffing, sequencer effects and an overall Pink Floyd vibe.

It's a fine line between what some people would call pure genius and what others would call nothing but abstract noise. Zero Hour walk a fine line between the two. This band has extremely talented musicians and with Dark Deceiver, we see a trend towards an even more technically complex sound with more modern and even industrial like elements. It takes several listens to really "get" what the guys are trying to achieve with this album and even after 4 or 5 listens, I'm not quite sure that I ever will. The endless fret board gymnastics between Jason and Troy Tipton get a little tired after a while and although I applaud them for attempting to create something a little different and more extreme in the prog metal genre, this album is almost devoid of any discernable hooks or melodies to give this album any staying power with the average listener. This one might be a little hard to "digest" for the average prog metal fan and is targeted at those who like the more extreme and very technical aspects that prog metal has to offer.

Killing Songs :
Power To Believe and The Temple Within
Marty quoted 70 / 100
Other albums by Zero Hour that we have reviewed:
Zero Hour - Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond reviewed by Ken and quoted 95 / 100
Zero Hour - A Fragile Mind reviewed by Ben and quoted 87 / 100
Zero Hour - Metamorphosis reviewed by Ben and quoted 82 / 100
Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice reviewed by Ben and quoted 85 / 100
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