NEW ZERO GOD – “SHORT TALES & TALL SHADOWS”

During the 90’s Greek band Flowers of Romance released three albums which would take influence from an eighties new wave/post punk generation sitting alongside touring partners and goth legends the Mission, it is from these beginnings that the seeds were sown for Averkios Chatziantoniadis and Mike Pougounas to team up once more for a new project in New Zero God.

Having also crossed over into the industrial scene Pougounas helped complete the line-up with members from his previous heavier band Nexus and soon there was a new god… ten years on and the band have been back in the studio for their third album “Short Tales and Tall Shadows” which draws from a more storytelling approach than earlier releases – “Deadly Dollhouse” for example with it’s spoken words narrating the scene for what’s to follow.

The album however opens with a track that drew my attention immediately due to it’s referencing of Edgar Allen Poe‘s “King Pest“, the 1800’s writer surely influencing (directly or indirectly) almost all goth bands somewhere along the line with his love of the macabre and grotesque.

That’s not to say New Zero God are delving into the obvious, but you’re definitely getting a very  accomplished goth album here whereby the production will also appeal to fans of Bauhaus/Fields of the Nephilim and with Sisters of Mercy still touring but refusing to record any new material tracks such as “My Reaper” and the simply titled “Bastard” certainly help fill a missing void.

Likewise the vocals by Mike Pougounas during the verses on “Shut Up” could easily emulate that of the sisters Andrew Eldritch, it’s the moody delivery rather than the high pitched screaming of some of the more modern influenced goth-infused metal bands but it soon descends into unexpected angry spouting of the song title itself.

There’s been careful consideration with the effects and the band also come close to providing the listener with a romantic ballad in “Down the Rabbit Hole“, a slower stripped back affair whilst the album closes with another 90’s sounding goth track in “She’s Electrified” whereby you can easily imagine New Zero God playing in the darkened shadows of a smoke filled stage completing a compelling yet accomplished album.

NEW ZERO GOD – “Short Tales & Tall Shadows” Out now:                   www.newzerogod.com