Almost three years after their acclaimed “Survivors”, King Zebra returns with a new studio album, “Between the Shadows”, under a new label, Frontiers Music. I think that’s crucial, cuz going to a big label means that the guys are ready to take it to the next level. And of course they do not disappoint… on the contrary, I have to say.
The band blends AOR, melodic rock, and hard rock without sounding retro or anything like that. The production is fresh, dynamic, and contemporary. Once again, they worked with renowned producer Oscar Nilsson (The Halo Effect, Engel, Mustasch, Crashdiet, etc.), who produced their previous album. The musicianship is excellent, and all the core musicians, Roman Lauer on guitar, Jerry Napitupulu on guitars & keyboards, Manu Judge on bass, and Benjamin Grimm on drums, are great. Needless to say, former China vocalist Eric St. Michaels enhances the songs with his incredible performances. Eric and Roman are the main songwriters of the band, which shows how influential Eric is on the band’s music. It’s important to note how successfully they worked together to create this album.
If I had to pick a few favorite tracks, I’d pick: “Starlight”, “Children of the Night”, “Wicked”, “Dina”, “Love Lies”, “Cyanide”, “Love Me Tonight”, “Out in the Wild”, and “Restless Revolution”. Then again, it’s better to listen to the whole album a few times and find your own preferred songs. Personally, I’ve changed my mind about some of the tracks after a few listens. One thing is for sure, there are no fillers here. This is not your average melodic hard rock album. It’s more than that.
“Between the Shadows” has beautiful hooks, great melodies, rockin’ rhythms, and amazing vocals. It also excels in songwriting and execution compared to other albums in the same genre. It’s an album that sets the course for the band’s future. After all, this is only a sample of what this band is capable of. I’m sure they can achieve even more soon. Nevertheless, this album is well worth your time. You will be rewarded by the quality of the music on the very first listen. If you fancy melodic hard rock music of the 80s, 90s, and 00s, then you have no reason to miss this album.
