Zeroth
Profane fruit from a sacred tree.Genre Prog Metal Band Created 3/23/2009 Total Sales 288
Industry Bling
Band Bio
BAND OVERVIEW:
Taking their cue from the likes of Led Zeppelin and Tool, prog-metal titans Zeroth have made a point of keeping a low profile as individuals and letting their music serve as their collective interface with the listening public. As a result, little is known regarding the members or origins of the band. What is known is that the band originated in the Northeast U.S. sometime in 2007 and began developing what has become a devoted following, both for the oustanding quality of their musicianship as well as their visually- and sonically-stunning live performances. The most public member, generally serving as spokesman for the group, is the drummer "K" [aka Karl Durden; see also bands Kaliclysm and Supercrusher]. Over time, the identities of the other members have become known; the vocalist is Jason Smith, Dan Hughes (lead) and Jack Witten (rhythm) are the guitarists, and Tom Ford is on bass.
Zeroth's influences are from the progressive rock and metal genres, most obviously Tool, Meshuggah, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, Rush and Primus. They have acknowledged three of these in particular, with a cover of Tool's "Lateralus" on their 'fibonacci epoch' debut, a cover of Meshuggah's "Perpetual Black Second" on their second full-length, 'Obelisk', and Rush's "Cygnus X-1" on 'Eclipse'. For their second EP ['catatonic babylon'], Zeroth delivered a surprise with a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Cryptical Envelopment". It was a gamble, but it paid off with an imaginative math-metal reinterpretation. Their live performances have featured these songs, and numerous other covers of prog-rock/-metal classics [see 'Uncovered'].
In early September 2009, Zeroth shocked the music world by announcing they had secured permission to play two nights at the Giza Necropolis, home of the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. In another surprise, Zeroth donned a "musical costume" for their Halloween 2009 NYC gig and performed a complete cover of Tool's 1996 classic 'Ænima' as their extended encore. Whether a recording of that performance will ever be released is a topic of hot debate among Zeroth aficionados.
During a break between American and European legs of the Portals Tour, Zeroth entered the studio and recorded their fifth full-length album, the heavily physics-influenced 'Tachyon'. In an unusual move, Zeroth released their first-ever single "Physalis-Turbulence (Thank You Kolmogorov)" prior to the release of the album. Critical response to 'Tachyon' has been some of the finest of Zeroth's career to-date, and the album has spawned several successful singles, including "Superluminal" and "Vermicular". Zeroth also teamed up with tourmates Kemia to release a single of Gustav Holst's classical composition "Mars, Bringer Of War".
As the climax of the Portals Tour, Zeroth completed two now legendary nights at the Giza Necropolis January 29-30, 2010. Highlighting the event were covers of Rush's '2112' and Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' as the first and second night encores, respectively, featuring Zandergriff Miggs on synths/keys and Stalker Channing on lead vocals. Visit the special page for the event here:
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=1569
The massive box set [4 CDs, DVD, booklet] 'Beneath The Gaze Of Osiris' documented this unique event and is available for sale:
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2040/beneath-the-gaze-of-osiris-live-at-giza.fig
RECENT ACTIVITIES:
Following a short break during late winter/early spring 2010, during which Jason Smith did a small solo tour and K toured with Supercrusher, Zeroth went back out on the road for the Tachyon World Tour. The 2010 Tour was Zeroth's first proper world tour, and found the band playing 90 sold-out shows in 83 cities (including several new locales in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America) to nearly 2.5 million fans. Additionally, K flew back and forth to Houston, TX to man the drums for Supercrusher's triumphant return to the Merchants Of Metal Main Stage at MOM IV.
Ever the road warriors, before the end of the Tachyon Tour, Zeroth announced plans for the Cacophony Tour [N.America, Jan.-Feb. 2011]. Bringing together four of the most dynamic and innovative progressive metal bands on the planet [Zeroth, Serpentinuun, Kemia and The Great God Conspiracy], Cacophony promises to offer fans an intense and enlightening musical experience each night.
While on-tour, Zeroth recorded and released the 'babel' [sic] EP; an instrumental concept piece, inspired by the many and diverse cultures they experienced on the road. Immediately following the end of the Tachyon Tour, Zeroth entered the studio to begin work on the proper follow-up to 'Tachyon'. Another EP was released, 'Cyberscream', which contained 4 tracks whose overall concept was rejected as the basis for the next full-length, but otherwise combined to deliver an intense exploratory musical experience.
Following the longest germination period of any of their recordings to-date, Zeroth's sixth full length 'Concentric Horizons' [2 CDs] was released March 15th, 2011, to outstanding reviews. With 20 tracks, spanning pastoral drone, dizzying math-metal and punishing thrash, 'Concentric Horizons' captures Zeroth at the peak of their powers. Zeroth subsequently announced the Universal Utopiate World Tour, beginning in Fall 2011, in support. Included among the many new tour stops along the way will be another future-epic gig at the Angkor Wat Temple complex in Cambodia, schedule for February 25, 2012.
ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS:
Zeroth's first formal interview [Mar.'10]; regarding the Giza gigs and general topics:
http://news.figment.cc/2010/03/09/rockin-the-necropolis-the-zeroth-interview/
New Metal Masters Magazine announced that NMM Volume 6, to be published in March 2011, will feature Zeroth.
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=1596
FAN ORGANIZATION:
The Paradox Legion, Zeroth's official fan organization, was founded in October 2009. Fans can go check out the benefits of membership and join here:
http://figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=1657
TOUR SCHEDULE:
The band will return to the road on the Universal Utopiate Tour in Fall 2011, with special guests Voynix and Dysmorphica:
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=2907
Zeroth has announced a special concert event at the Angkor Wat Temple complex [Cambodia] on February 25, 2012:
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=2916
GEAR:
In response to numerous fan requests, a rundown on Zeroth's gear is now available:
Jason: Throat, Shure Microphones, Left-hemisphere Cranium.
K: Tama Drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads, Vic Firth Sticks; Arms of Kali.
Dan: Gibson & Ibanez [7-/8-string] Guitars; Gibson & Ernie Ball Strings; DH Signature Picks; Mesa, Marshall & Soldano Amps; Essence of Satan.
Jack: ESP, Schechter & Ibanez [7-/8-string] Guitars; Ernie Ball Strings; JW Signature Picks; Mesa, Bogner & Orange Amps; General Tso's.
Tom: Fender Basses; Rotosound Strings; Fender Picks; Ampeg Amps; Xbox.
Eric: Schechter Guitars; Ernie Ball Strings; Dunlop Picks; Mesa & Ampeg Amps; Apple MacBook Pro.
RELATED LINKS:
Jason Smith solo project: http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=1867
Kaliclysm [K solo project]: http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=1181
Supercrusher [K side project]: http://www.figment.cc/home/viewband.fig?id=1172
Band Gear
This band doesn't own any gear!
Albums / EPs
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Iris [Single]
Date Released: 6/2/2011
Tracks: 3 The 4th single from Zeroth's 'Concentric Horizons', "Iris" deals with the manipulation of perception by the media, and the inability to believe everything that one sees. Zeroth take inspiration from the leaves of a camera lens diaphragm in delivering angular, choppy riffs, that circle each other as they gradually tighten to the thematic climax of the song. Also includes a dramatic remix by industrial band Sinthetic, as well as a 'Concentric Horizons' castoff "Illusions Behind". |
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Utopiate [Single]
Date Released: 4/24/2011
Tracks: 3 To forget one's cares and walk down the unearthly tunnel. To go beyond oneself, and become one with the void. Zeroth's latest single "Utopiate" is a harrowing chronicle of the quest for transcendence with an ultimate descent into madness. Paired with a soundscape that at times verges into dissonant noise, "Utopiate" is certainly one of Zeroth's most challenging compositions, yet compelling in its' unflinching intensity. Also includes a demo version, and the 'Portals'-era track, "Occulus". |
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Concentric Horizons
Date Released: 3/15/2011
Tracks: 20 There is the world that's seen, and the world that's unseen; the facade, and the truth [or lies] behind. Zeroth charge headlong at this duality in their latest release. With 20 tracks that alternately elevate, question, inspire and plunge into the murky abyss, 'Concentric Horizons' offers up a masterwork both intellectual and emotive. Musically, Zeroth is powerful and finely-honed: delivering atmospheric passages and moments of calm amid the precisely-executed metallic maelstrom. [2 CDs] |
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Forbidden Sun [Single]
Date Released: 2/15/2011
Tracks: 3 The second single taken from Zeroth's 'Concentric Horizons', "Forbidden Sun" offers a scathing indictment of organized religion, so-called secret societies and other groups dedicated to the extension of their own power at the expense of individual liberties. Musically, the band is razor-sharp, delivering their trademark twisting riffs and polyrhythms with astounding precision and power. Also includes a dramatic remix by Kemia, plus a rare live performance of "Schrödinger's Cat" ['Tachyon']. |
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Concentric Horizons [Single]
Date Released: 1/26/2011
Tracks: 4 Zeroth's debut single from 'Concentric Horizons' is the title track. Befitting the title, this complex track features challenging lyrics regarding the duality of existence and parallel riff cycles that circle around each other, yet never quite meet. Only a band of such abundant skill as Zeroth could pull off such a dramatic feat. Also included are demo and remixed versions, plus a previously-unreleased track "Shockwave", which as its' name suggests, is a punishing exercise in heaviness. |
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Cyberscream
Date Released: 12/4/2010
Tracks: 4 Zeroth whets their fans' appetites for new material with their 'Cyberscream' EP. Featuring four intense and complex tracks that share alliterative titles and a common lyrical theme of radical human evolution, but have little in common musically, Zeroth continue to forge their own unique path as the dominant act of the progressive metal genre. |
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babel
Date Released: 10/11/2010
Tracks: 8 Inspired by the many cultures experienced during their Tachyon World Tour, Zeroth's latest effort 'babel' [sic] is an instrumental concept piece following the rise and fall of the biblical Tower of Babel. Recorded live during soundchecks in several cities, the centerpiece is the "Etemenanki Suite". Spanning nearly 25 minutes, this epic shifts from militaristic percussion ["Brick Upon Brick"] to soaring, ethereal guitar ["To Scrape The Heavens"] and punishing extreme metal ["His Will Be Done"]. |
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Cryptonomicon [Single]
Date Released: 2/17/2010
Tracks: 4 Zeroth mine the fourth single from their 'Tachyon' album with their latest release, "Cryptonomicon". With unsual time signatures, dissonant riffing, and lyrics as impenetrable as the Enigma machine pictured on the disc's cover, "Cryptonomicon" is no doubt one of the most complicated releases from Zeroth. Also included are a demo version of the track and Windows and Mac versions of an Enigma Machine simulation. |
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Beneath The Gaze Of Osiris: Live At Giza
Date Released: 2/4/2010
Tracks: 20 Zeroth's two nights at the Giza Necropolis have quickly become the stuff of legend. With definitive live performances of some of their most complex songs, and two inspired encore covers [Rush's '2112' and Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon'], Zeroth clearly achieved a career peak. Only a box set as comprehensive as 'Beneath The Gaze Of Osiris' could do justice to this event. With 4 CDs, a DVD, and a companion booklet packed with images, this is a worthy document of a historic concert event. |
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Vermicular [Single]
Date Released: 1/8/2010
Tracks: 5 Zeroth's torrent of singles continues with the latest taken from 'Tachyon', "Vermicular". Featuring no less than 13 changes of rhythm and numerous polyrhythmic passages, "Vermicular" is as its name implies; anything but a straight line. The disc includes an acoustic demo of the track and, in a first for Zeroth, guitar- and drum-only versions, allowing for shedding at-home. Zeroth also include a live cover of Meshuggah's punishing "Soul Burn", from 1995's classic 'Destroy Erase Improve'. |
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Superluminal [Single]
Date Released: 12/30/2009
Tracks: 4 Zeroth release the second single off their 'Tachyon' album, the blistering thrash gem "Superluminal". From a rhythmic perspective, this song is fairly simple compared to Zeroth's other fare, but at this kind of insanely fast tempo the band gets into a high gear and doesn't let up. The single includes a live recording of the track, a dramatic remix performed by dronesters Kemia - giving the song a very ethereal vibe, and an oustanding cover of Soundgarden's seminal track, "Hand Of God". |
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Mars, Bringer Of War [Single]
Date Released: 12/8/2009
Tracks: 1 Zeroth and Kemia jointly played an excerpt from "Mars, Bringer Of War" as the transition between bands during their European Portals Tour dates. The two bands have now teamed up to record a proper cover of Gustav Holst's classic piece. Famously covered by ELP in the late '80s, Zeroth/Kemia deliver an inspired version that is heavier and less synth-driven than ELP's take, while at the same time closer to the original. |
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Tachyon
Date Released: 11/30/2009
Tracks: 10 On 'Tachyon', prog-metal masters Zeroth once again display astounding chops and wide-ranging reading habits, pairing complex math-metal with astrophysics and quantum mechanics. Standouts include "Sidereus Nuncius" [Starry Messenger], the high-speed thrash of the aptly-titled tracks "Tachyon" and "Superluminal", and the previously-released single "Physalis-Turbulence". The playful instrumental "Schrödinger's Cat" is a genuine surprise; displaying a previously-unheard whimsical side to Zeroth. |
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Physalis-Turbulence (Thank You Kolmogorov)[Single]
Date Released: 11/6/2009
Tracks: 2 Zeroth issue their first ever single "Physalis-Turbulence (Thank You Kolmogorov)". Inspired by a rough flight from Brazil to Dallas, and recorded in several studios during their North American tour, "P-T" features dizzying changes in tempo and rhythm, and is not for the musically faint of heart. The "b-side" is a remix version, carried out by none other than funk maestro Zandergriff Miggs, that verges into dance music territory. Z.Miggs appears courtesy of Uncle Duff Records |
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Portals
Date Released: 7/29/2009
Tracks: 6 Six tracks. Fifty-seven minutes. A dizzying array of riffs and polyrhythms. Zeroth. LBR's math metal titans are back at it on their latest release 'Portals', once more pushing the boundaries of mind-bending metal to the extreme. Perhaps most striking is their blending of traditional Indian Rajasthan styles with left-brain metal on the epic 13-minute "Gyananakashu" [Indian for "the eye of knowledge"]. That experience alone makes 'Portals' worth the price of admission. |
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Noospheromones - Reloaded
Date Released: 7/23/2009
Tracks: 17 Given the precision with which Long Bong Records stars Zeroth execute their brand of math-metal, it was startling when their EP "Noospheromones" went out with a major typo on the cover. Consider this their apology to their fans. For the price of a single disc, Zeroth deliver a double-length reworking of the 'Noospheromones' disc, including the original 5 cuts, 6 remixed tracks, 4 live tracks, a new Tool cover ["Third Eye"] and a totally new composition, "Copious Ecstasy". Apology accepted.... |
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Eclipse
Date Released: 6/23/2009
Tracks: 11 Zeroth are back, unleashing a torrent of mind-blowing math metal on 'Eclipse'. The aptly-named opener "Vortex" is a twisting labyrinth of shifting tempos and swirling guitars. "Supernova Canticle" has to be one of the most outrageously complex pieces of music ever recorded. Then there's the crowning glory: the epic 18-minute "Eclipse" suite will surely go down as a career-defining performance for Zeroth. What would a Zeroth album be without a cover: Rush is given the nod with "Cygnus X-1". |
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Uncovered
Date Released: 5/26/2009
Tracks: 6 Math-metal stars Zeroth have repeatedly paid homage to their predecessors by covering songs influential to their sound. They have taken this one step further on their latest release 'Uncovered' [Long Bong Records], by releasing an album comprised entirely of covers recorded live on their Infinite Spiral Tour. As one would expect from left-brainers like Zeroth, the selections run strongly to prog-rock/-metal choices. All the performances are strong, but standouts are the Rush and Tool medleys. |
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Live
Date Released: 5/23/2009
Tracks: 18 Welcome to the controlled madness that is Zeroth in concert. Recorded during their Infinite Spiral Tour, their double-CD 'Live' showcases Zeroth at their mind-boggling best. They alternately deliver precise renditions of their studio tracks, and then morph songs into the metal equivalent of extended jam band explorations. A must-buy for the fans of the math-metal titans, and a preview of what's in-store when Zeroth headline the Merchants of Metal Festival. |
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Catatonic Babylon
Date Released: 4/26/2009
Tracks: 5 We've come to expect the unexpected from Zeroth, but nothing could have prepared us for what was on their latest Long Bong Records release, 'Catatonic Babylon' [EP]: a Grateful Dead cover. Covers are not new for Zeroth - they have previously covered songs from Tool and Meshuggah, but those were clear math-metal influences. The inclusion of 'Cryptical Envelopment' on this disc was nothing short of genius. Jerry Berry would likely barely recognize his tune, but Zeroth make it work, big time. |
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Obelisk
Date Released: 4/23/2009
Tracks: 11 Long Bong Records' math-metal stars Zeroth release their second full-length disc 'Obelisk'. It might have been better-named 'Monolith', given the singularly massive slabs of prog-metal they construct. As with most music in this genre, it's a complicated listen and not for the faint of heart. Once again, Zeroth give a nod to their influences with an inspired cover of Meshuggah's 'Perpetual Black Second'. 'Transoptical', 'Insensate', and the moody closer, 'Entropy' are other standout tracks. |
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Noospheromones
Date Released: 3/25/2009
Tracks: 5 Math-metal upstarts Zeroth are at it again.... Their latest Long Bong Records EP, 'Noonspheromones', tackles the primacy of sexuality in the human mentality. One has to wonder, Where do they come up with this stuff? But, when it sounds this good, it's best to just lay back and enjoy the ride - in 64/17th time. |
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fibonacci epoch
Date Released: 3/23/2009
Tracks: 9 Pronouncing the band's name [it's zir-auth], is likely the least complex aspect of their Long Bong Records debut, fibonacci epoch [sic]. These guys take a cerebral approach to their metal, with complex time signatures [7/4, 9/8, 13/4 and more] and liberal use of polyrhythms. This is thinking-man's music for sure. Highlights include "Hydroclysm", "Devious Emotion", and an inspired reworking of Tool's Fibonacci-influenced "Lateralus" which closes the album. |
Offical Band News
| Zeroth Rocks Dublin [Pt.2] | 9/14/2011 |
| Zeroth Rocks Dublin [Pt.1] | 9/14/2011 |
| Dublin | 9/13/2011 |