The Pitch: Croatian progressive instrumental metal band Zayn return after 3 years with a new EP for your listening pleasure. FFO: Russian Circles, Cotillion, Engines of Gnosis
What I Like: Zayn aren't the most complex of progressive bands when it comes to performance or composition. Instead, they choose to pour their focus into building spacey atmospheres worthy of one of those old laser light shows. As such, Evolution Made Us is a delightful little 17 minute journey into the unknown. You could probably play this EP over a video of Dave making his final psychedelic evolutionary leap in 2001: A Space Odyssey and it would work pretty well. Oh wait... Zayn has come up with their own LCD-fueled visualizations for us to enjoy. I've embedded one below for one of my groovy personal favorites, "Old as Earth," but there are more on the band's channel.
Critiques: I wouldn't say that these are the most memorable entries in the genre. Again, tracks like "Old As Earth" and "Homoerectus" exemplify the potential of this band with their bouncy, vaguely Primus-y sounding riffs and layering of synths and piano. I'll be looking for a lot more of that in the future.
The Verdict: Evolution Made Us is an enjoyable little prog EP that calls back to the psychedelic aesthetic of the 70's... just with a heavier twist. While I'm not sure I'll be thinking back on these tracks much a week from now, I am confident that if Zayn fully embrace their more playful side, they could have a really strong LP on their hands the next go-around.
Flight's Fav's: Homoerectus, Old as Earth
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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