Zero Degree Interview

1.       Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Greetings! We got a huge amount of interviews to answer these days, ha ha. The band is working hard, we’re stuck quite in the middle of the promotion of our album “Surreal World” and everything is going fine so far.

2.       How would you describe the musical sound of the new material?

The album is like a mixture of 90’s melo-death paired with classical heavy metal and a bit of modern stuff in it. I think an old school metal head could like it as well as a young kid.

3.       What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

“Surreal World” mainly deals with modern society. The album contains a concept but not every song has a clear connection to it. It’s also about personal growth and the manipulation by modern lifestyle.

4.        What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band’s name?

The main intention behind the name is its ambiguity. We liked the different ways to interpret the phrase and it fits well to a metal band.

5.       What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
how would you describe your stage performance?

Very difficult question, because there are a lot of good memories left in “ZERO DEGREE’s” history. Maybe the shows in a small village near our hometown were quite memorable gigs. Up to 600 people from our region went to those parties. Too sad - these events don’t exist anymore. Opening gigs for bigger bands like “MERCENARY”, “SUIDAKRA” and “MAROON” were also quite cool. Our performance is like celebrating the metal together with the audience. We like the closer connection to the people and our singer Thomas is quite good in entertaining the crowd.

6.       Do you have any touring plans?

A longer tour is not planned so far. We all have family and friends, and are working in regular jobs. So it is hard to manage a tour with our jobs. But that would be a great goal to reach for “ZERO DEGREE”. Club gigs are planned for the end of the year and some shows will be announced soon.

7.       According the metal archives page, the album originally came out in
2010 and now it is being re released by Massacre Records, what is your
opinion of the re-issue?

Yes, the original album was produced by us and was released in the fall of 2010. We decided to try a more professional way to promote the band by sending demos to record companies. “MASSACRE RECORDS” came up with their deal and it turned to be a good decision. The album is easier to get even for people around the globe and we reach way more metalheads than before, which is awesome.

8.       I have noticed that the band uses 3 guitar players, how would you
compare that to bands that mostly just use one or two guitarists?

We have the possibility to recreate the album with every guitar that’s heard on the record. Most bands have to decide whether they play the rhythm or the lead guitars live and that’s a fact we wanted to leave out since the very beginning. But sometimes it is a bit hard to assert yourself between two other guitar heroes, especially when they have whammy bars on their guitars, ha ha.

9.       On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by fans of
melodic death metal?

Very good so far. On platforms like facebook it is noticeable that even international people like our stuff and are interested in ZD. It is great to get their feedback, we absolutely appreciate that.

10.   Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full
time line up?

Since 2008 I think no member of the band has been involved in other projects than “ZERO DEGREE”. Maybe ZD is too time-consuming for everyone and as I mentioned before we are all into our “normal” lives.

11.   What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

I really can say that there won’t be a progression to other music styles or the modern kind of melodic death metal. It will be the same melo-death as it is but with an established songwriting and maybe with more mature playing techniques.

12.   What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

The bands from the Gothenburg-scene are our main influences. “In Flames”, “Dark Tranquillity” and “At the gates” are the fathers of that style and we don’t want to conceal that fact. “Iron Maiden” is another band that everyone in ZD likes and which left some traces on our blueprint. There are a lot of other bands we like from the Scandinavian-scene like “Dissection”, “Amon Amarth”, “Arch Enemy” and so on. I’m a big fan of “Paradise Lost” and am looking forward to their upcoming album, I think it’s going to be fantastic.

13.   Outside of music what are some of your interests?

That’s really many-sided. I’m into riding my mountainbike through the forest near my hometown or playing videogames, lately “Mass Effect 3” which is absolutely epic. I really like to read science-fiction books, especially classics like “Brave new world”, “1984” or “Blade Runner”. The other guys are into different things as well. Pascal and Thomas are interested in mechanical and electrical engineering beside their work. André plays in a local rugby team.
Tobias is very open minded and tries several things like downhill-biking, paintball and likes to travel around the globe. Maik is the one who’s way more into heavy metal than we all are. He surely has other hobbies but his guitar and his vinyl LP collection is his passion. Something we all like is to party together while listening to heavy metal and drinking some “Korncola” (a drink from our local area).

14.   Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thanks for the interview and for spreading the word about “ZERO DEGREE”!

Zero Degree/Surreal World/Massacre Records/2012 CD Review

  Zero Degree  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Surreal  World"  which  was  originally  released  in  2010  and  re-issued  by  Massacre  Records  during  the  year  of  2012.

  Drums  range from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars,  as  for  the  synths  which  are  only  used  briefly  they  bring  an  industrial edge  to  the  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  melodic  death  metal  riffs  with  some  of  the  riffing  having  a  thrash  feeling  to  them  in  addition  there  is  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  on  the  last  song  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads  and  at  times  you  can  hear  some  classic  metal  elements.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  deep  death  metal  growls,  high  pitched  screams  and  some  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and professional  sound  to  them.

  In  my  opinion  Zero Degree  are  a  very  good  sounding  melodic  death  metal  band  and  of  you  are  a fan  of  this  style,  you  should c heck  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tomorrow  Dies  Today'  "Grapes  Of  Wrath"  "Surreal World"  and  "The  Fog".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.  

  

Septekh/The Seth Avalanche/Abyss Records/2012 CD Review

  Septekh  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  dark  form  of  death/thrash  metal  with  a  blackended  edge  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "The  Seth  Avalanche"  which  was  released  by  Abyss  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  in  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  the  most  brutal  elements  of  death  and  thrash  metal  together  with  some  black  metal  influences,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  have  a  rock  music  edge  to  them  at  times.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  blackened  death/thrash  metal  screams  and  deep  death  metal  growls,  while the  lyrics  cover  dark,  hateful  and  occult  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful  and  heavy  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Septekh  are  a  very  great  sounding  death/thrash  metal  band  with  a  blackened  edge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fuckslut  From  Hell"  "Shoot  Em  All"  and  "The  Set  Avalanche".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Perishing Humanity/The Monument Of Human Lies And Hypocrisy/Metal Scrap Records/2012 CD Review

  Perishing  Humanity  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  brutal  technical  death  metal  and  deathcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "The  Monument  Of  Human  Lies  And  Hypocrisy"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Scrap Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  some  heavy  death/grind  riffs  that  dominate  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  that  are  very  heavy  and  brutal  sounding  ehich  combine  death  metal,  grindcore  and  deathcore  together  with  alot  of  technical  sounding  riffing  being  thrown  into the  music,  while  the  lead  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  are  very  technical  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mixture  of  deep  death  metal  growls  and  high  pitched  grindcore  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  hateful  and  everyday  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments   that  are  present on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Perishing  Humanity  are  a  very  great  sounding  brutal/technical  death  metal/deathcore  hybrid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Interminable"  "Bloody  Red  Product"  and  "Left  To  Die". RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Job For A Cowboy/Demonacracy/Metal Blade Records/2012 CD Review

  Job  For  A  Cowboy  are  a  band  from  Gelendale,  Arizona  that  has  been  around  for  awhile  that  plays  a  style  that  mixes  deathcore  with  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Demonacracy"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  death/grind  riffs  that  dominate  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  death  metal  with  deathcore  mixed  in  with  a  great  amount  of  technical  and  melodic  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  technical  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  mixed  in  with  some  melodic  parts  that  have  a  traditional  metal  feeling  to  them.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  deep  death  metal  growls  and  high  pitched  grind/deathcore  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  apocalypse,  society  and  politics,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  great  album  from  Job  For  A  Cowboy  and  while  this  band  has  been  around  a  long  time  this  is  the  first  time  I  have  heard  a  whole  album  from  them  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  might  enjoy  this  recording  and  this  album  is  more  closer  to  being  a  death/grind  album  instead  of  deathcore  which  I  know  the  band  has  been  categorized  as.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Children  Of  Deceit"  "Tongueless  And  Bound"  "The  Diety  Misconception"  and  "Fearmonger".  RECOMMENDED  BUY. 

Despite Exile/Scarlet Reverie/2012 EP Review

 Despite  Exile  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  progressive  metal,  death  metal/deathcore  and  hard/metalcore  and this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2012  EP  "Scarlet  Reverie".

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  apced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  traditional  and  melodic  death  metal  with  progressive  metal ,  deathcore  and  metal  core, while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  and  technical  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls,  high  pitched  screams  and  a  brief  use  of  hardcore  style  yells  and  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover  hateful  and  everyday  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  heavy,  powerful,  and  professional  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Despite  Exile  are  a  very  god  sounding  progressive/death  metal/deathcore/hardcore  hybrid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stand  Alone"  and  "Pure  Crimson".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Neuronia/Follow The White Mouse/Metal Scrap Records/2011 CD Review

  Neuronia  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  melodic  form  of  heavy/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  album  "Follow  The White  Mouse"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Scrap  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  brutal  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  synths  when  they  are  utilized  bring  a  dark  sound  to  the  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  melodic  death  metal  with  traditional  heavy  metal  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  also utilize  influences  from  traditional  rock  music,  as  for  the  acoustic   guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and exotic  sounding  scales  to  enhance  the  darkness  of  the  music.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  deep  death  metal  growls  and  rough  sounding  clean  singing  vocals  that  bring  in  a  groove  and  traditional  metal/rock  element  to  the  music  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  hateful themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and professional  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Neuronia  are  a  very  good  sounding  melodic  death  metal/heavy  metal/hard  rock  hybrid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band. RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Make  them  Die"  "November  Sky"  and  "Put  Your  Dukes  Up".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.