The Melodic Heavy punk/ska band Zombies No dropped their latest album The Big Reset earlier this year but, that hasn’t stopped it from gaining traction. Combining the sounds of early 90’s and 2000’s punk, fans of bands like No Fun at All, Bad Religion, and Satanic Surfers will find memories in each and every track this band puts out. Winding down from their touring schedule, while revving up for more in 2023, the band keeps energy and passion alive, show after show, to give fans at every show a performance like its their last. After a handful of shows in Latin America the band returned to Europe in 2018 where they have already taken the stage all over Eastern and Western Europe, sections of the Balkans, the Baltic countries, and in the UK. Favouring lyrics that touch on themes like social awareness, freedom of speech, and to life, as well as thoughts and diversity, Zombies No, is a familiar yet refreshing take on the classics many of us 80’s kids remember from our teenage years. Born in Venezuela in 2010, and now working out of Paris and Italy, the band touches on the multicultural diversity of their band members to truly bring the essence of what they call “Punk Rock from Everywhere“.
Zombies No have released 4 albums thus far, two EPs and two LPs respectively, with their latest album THE BIG RESET this year, as mixed and mastered by Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room studios, home of NOFX, Propagandhi, Descendents and more.
Some words about TBR from the band:
The Big Reset is taking back everything -almost- from the start. When there’s nothing left to do, just start over. It’s what we did during the last two years. We feel that the last two years we have managed together to develop our ideas in the direction that we are all currently looking for. What should you expect? A lot of this energy and a nice balance between the 11 songs that make up The Big Reset. And in fact the name of the album speaks for itself, The Big Reset is not only about what’s happening in the world but also about our personal lives and as a band.
The introductory track “Unnecessary Thoughts” immediately throws us back to the 90’s with the essence of , and Greenday at its core but, bringing in a heavier set of riffs. Vocals are clear, and drums blunt as this song carries out at a steady pace, one that takes in listeners’ attention and holds it to further establish the sound Zombies No want us to hear.
“A Letter from Nowhere” follows up, and has already amassed more than 1000 streams on Spotify, with listeners easily captivated by the heavier sound. Drums drop lower, and bass gets strong with guitars picking up the pieces and shredding through insanity. Quips of distortion amplify this track’s power, holding our attention long after the vocals begin. The video (linked below) shows many memories that are relatable and familiar, even from strangers, as the band touches on the sights, sounds, and joys we all look back on; some bringing a grin or tear, while others bring a grimace. Some well-placed solos, and solid instrumentals hold this short but, feverish track together, and quickly earned it a replay on my end.
“Shadow Reflection” gets a high rank in playthroughs for me, with steadfast beats and speed metal seeming to take hold of this track’s baseline. A short track but, one that holds ferocity and passion throughout, this piece reminds me of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones in its execution, with peppy high notes, and quick, heavy repetition that keeps the energy bumping!
Following up is “A Useful Forgiveness” that really hammers down the Punk feel, with sporadic beats and a rhythm that goes hard with each up and down offered. This track’s feature with guitar solos, and melodic riffage is vicious, really making me crank it up to hear the layers from vocals to the varying melody that each instrument takes up that somehow fit together seamlessly. The gentle breakdown at 2 minutes in really offers up some fine guitar work that doesn’t go full tilt until midway, then absolutely SHREDS your soul to pieces – love it!
The short, and not so sweet track, “War Lullaby” pays homage to the nightmares scattered about our world, painting news headlines with the truth of reality many face each and every day while we sit on comfy couches. “Here’s a song, that I wrote, not to impress but to protest, many kids mistaking their lives, from their fu!@ing lullabies” carries in HEAVY, using both imagery and music to hammer down the seriousness this track and its message undertake. “You can do whatever you want, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist” is a truth we all try to ignore. The bloodshed, broken bodies, torn countries, and forgotten souls spanning our world while we cry about a mistaken coffee order, or our favourite restaurant being out of a dish – luxuries we take for granted. “It’s a matter and it still persists” ends this mirroring track, showing both sides of war and first world, those who learn to kill from a young age, and those who flick their pencil idly over homework. While we seek to punish idle hands, their hands load live rounds, yet we try to steer clear, and put on the blindfold to a matter that is not our home but, is still our own.
“Alea Iacta Est” (meaning ‘the die is cast’) has a thick beat that really took in my attention. Heavy bass, and lighter drums play well on a change up, letting each instrument call out individually while still working as one. It’s got a lighter feel than previous tracks on this album, offering up the same foundations and vocal strength but, pacing out smoothly and with more fragility. “We fell apart and we took our part ways, We decided not to leave room for emotions” is a strong set of lines for a chorus; really hammering in the old war and the war within ourselves quite plainly but, with (despite the lyrics) emotionally intensity.
The final track “Dreaming of Dreaming” may not be the longest on the album but, is a perfect end cap to a complex, and diverse compilation that not only shows the band’s passion for their craft but, their continuous desire to push forward lyrically and musically. This track comes in wicked and feverish, with heart-pounding drums and mind-blowing riff work. The lyrics for this song are quick, simple in their words yet, complex in their combinations – “one foot after the other,walking, while hoping never to arrive, dreaming of dreaming,” starts the imagine running wild, leading us down a trail of thoughts and endless ‘what-ifs’. “I know do one thing at a time, analyze one thought at a time,” as if we’re not continuously overburdened by the endless processes of living, breathing, and even doing the simplest of tasks in our mundane lives. To end on “one foot after another, walking, while trying to reach the sun,” puts a deeper perspective on the simple lines – for us to move beyond the overwhelming and overburdened simplicity, and to extend our hands to the world we wish to see, the hopes and dreams we hold onto.
Overall, this band holds onto a sound many have pushed beyond, trying to make something new or different when many fans and listeners yearn for a simple twist to the familiar and ‘comfy’ sounds we carried throughout our youth. Zombies No takes those feelings, those memories and the music that carries them and rejuvenates them with fire, expertise, and an experimental yearning to stretch themselves beyond the basics. With deep lyrical messages brought forth in quick, simple lines, combined with fast-paced rhythms and melodies that keep the fire alive, its easy to see how Zombies No have earned their place on stages across the globe. I only hope their passion continues to drive them to not only create more but, truly stretch their fingers and try to ‘reach the sun‘.
You can find out more about Zombies No via their website, and snag their new album The Big Reset via their Bandcamp, or stream it via Spotify, Itunes, and other streaming services. And don’t forget to give them a follow via their Facebook for upcoming tour announcements, news, and more!
Valkyrjian 