Slave Zero, a Kilkenny/ Dublin based band, describe themselves as 'Ireland's hardest working unsigned metal act.' These bold words are uttered by every new metal band to emerge from the country who actually believe they are 'Ireland's hardest working unsigned metal act,' but in nine out of ten cases this seems to be a massive overestimation resulting in the band breaking up or just withering away. So why should Slave Zero be any different?
The Pain Remits, Slave Zero's third release, is an amazing collective package. Within the fine crystal case is fantastic and imaginative artwork, a professional four-page booklet, attractive tray backdrop and perfectly printed CD. Although the whole blank CD with the band's name scrawled over it seems more metal, the effort that goes into this release wins you over immediately and complements their music brilliantly.
The EP opens with title track, The Pain Remits, a blast of Autopsy/Deicide screams blended into Hatebreed like vocals with a far sharper edge. The crushing beats are a testament to their idols and are played brilliantly. I Fear For You opens in a climatic fashion but soon gathers shape through the pounding vocals of Graeme V. Flynn and just on the minute mark your convinced that this song is amazing due to the violin like sawing riff from the guitars. The guttural vocals of Andy Coade gives the song a black metal vibe and the overall fusion displays an Exodus like sound.
Soul Of Ruin is a brilliant blend of alternative vocals as well as original, dramatic and melancholic music. The twisting bass riff accompanied by the narrative vocals adds a release like sentiment at the end of the song which works brilliantly into subsequent track, Relief. The aforementioned opens in a slow thundering manner then kicks into a fast paced breakneck climax which overall doesn't push any boundaries but is portrayed in a professional and experienced way. The lyrics 'Consider these words as a form of release' are assisted by an elegy like waving riff, which gives the song a mature and plausible tone.
The final track, also the longest, Faceless, sets you off for a possibly softer song but soon abandons this and jumps into the general metal theme the EP has previously shown. Vocals are quite sparse throughout as the song takes on a more instrumental vibe and doesn't encounter any major tonal shifts other than the intro but this in turn is a strong and definitive end to the EP. 9/10
There's no quirkiness or unusual techniques on display. It's just pure, straight up metal with unquestionable riffs and roaring vocals and for a general metal fan this really is music to their ears. Regarding 'Ireland's hardest working unsigned metal act,' I guess it's a good way to describe them but id be more inclined to take out 'hardest working' and insert 'best.'
