Channel Zero

Channel Zero, along with the death/thrash wizards Chemical Breath, were the last Belgian bands to put themselves on the official release map from the batch of thrash metal acts over there from the late-80’s which also included one-stunt heroes like Evil Sinner, Black Shepherd, Asphyxia, etc. The classic metal canons had already been overwritten by that time, but our valiant old school defenders couldn’t care less about that, and unleashed their self-titled debut for those who still cherished the 80’s values and traditions.

A solid tribute to the Bay-Area movement we have here as "No Light (at the End of the Tunnel)” shows so well recalling Forbidden’s debut with its ripping, lashing guitars, complicating the environment with a couple of more elaborate arrangements; the leads occupy quite a bit of space being both melodic and screamy. The vocalist has an assured semi-declamatory timbre, mostly on the semi-clean side, which he uses to a more dramatic effect at times reminding of Sean Killian (Vio-Lence). “Tales of Worship” is another bashing speed/thrasher hinting at the early exploits of Death Angel the leads stealing the show with a fine melodic pirouette; and “The Pioneer” is a bit late to be a real “pioneer” with its stomping groovy rhythms although the guys move things around with livelier riff-patterns. “Succeed or Bleed” has a most enchanting melodic beginning which turns to some balladic help later remaining within the mid-paced confines; but “Never Alone” is a ripping headbanger which brings back the life into the recording although “Inspiration to Violence” clings more towards the heavier, stomping formulas again recalling Testament’s “Souls of Black” and Defiance’s “Beyond Recognition”. “Painful Jokes”’s main motif is quite reminiscent of the one from Sacred Reich’s “The American Way” only sped up and turned into a violent mosher as this composition is another speedier entertainment with stylish more technical embellishments. “Save Me” “saves” with both fast-paced and more intricate rhythms the band thrashing with gusto and verve never letting the speed down, calming to an extent for “Animation”, a seismic steam-roller cancelled by “Run with the Torch”, a frolic speedster in the best tradition of Heathen’s “Breaking the Silence” closing this effort with uplifting, bouncy riffs.

How far the guys were going to reach with their steadfast adherence to the classic metal laws never became a polemical issue as they switched onto the more fashionable groovy/post-thrashy sounds mere months later on the sophomore instalment. I guess they just wanted to get their infatuation with the mentioned wave out of their system before joining the army of aggro-followers under which guise they also did a good job on a string of albums that has reached up to the present day. The guys have slowed down in the new millennium although the two opuses released more recently show no willingness on their side to join the old school resurrection wave. Maybe they’re yet to look back in anger at their very roots…