Zen Guerrilla Shadows on the Sun Genres:Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock Very few bands can channel the dirty funk of rhythm and blues into rock & roll quite like Zen Guerrilla can. (Other exceptions include the Dirtbombs , Delta 72, and White Stripes.) Frontman Marcus Durant possesses a de... more »ep, soulful voice that hammers sonic fury into one track and bellows a deep-seated gospel wail the next. His volatile vocal style commands attention, whether he's covering David Bowie and Otis Redding or singing one of Zen Guerrilla's original underground classics-in-the-making. Shadows on the Sun is another riveting release from this completely underrated act. The complex arrangements--a mix of Jimi Hendrix, MC5, and electric blues with a little harmonica on the side--ignite when touched with Durant's calling out lines like "Let me hear the testimony" on "Inferno." From the slow, furious jam on "Smoke Rings" through the acid-rock trails streaming around "Subway Transmission," Zen Guerrilla hits the mark with their punk rock boogie every single time. --Jennifer Maerz« less
Very few bands can channel the dirty funk of rhythm and blues into rock & roll quite like Zen Guerrilla can. (Other exceptions include the Dirtbombs , Delta 72, and White Stripes.) Frontman Marcus Durant possesses a deep, soulful voice that hammers sonic fury into one track and bellows a deep-seated gospel wail the next. His volatile vocal style commands attention, whether he's covering David Bowie and Otis Redding or singing one of Zen Guerrilla's original underground classics-in-the-making. Shadows on the Sun is another riveting release from this completely underrated act. The complex arrangements--a mix of Jimi Hendrix, MC5, and electric blues with a little harmonica on the side--ignite when touched with Durant's calling out lines like "Let me hear the testimony" on "Inferno." From the slow, furious jam on "Smoke Rings" through the acid-rock trails streaming around "Subway Transmission," Zen Guerrilla hits the mark with their punk rock boogie every single time. --Jennifer Maerz
CD Reviews
A good, solid last hoo-rah
Mr. Richard K. Weems | Fair Lawn, NJ USA | 09/06/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was saddened when I met a friend who knows Andy Duvall, drummer of this great band, and found out that Zen Guerrilla was no more. Yes, it has been a few years since this disc came out, but I had held out hope against hope that there might be more.
So except for a disc that was sold mainly at concerts, this is our last installment of the Guerrila.
Fortunately, it is a solid disc, with a couple of sharp, rocking opening tracks. Zen Guerrilla really knew how to find a riff and play that riff out with every bit of energy they could muster. And those riffs come from all over--booty-shaking rock, of course, but also blues, soul and gospel. Even the somewhat country-ish track, "Evening Sun," hits a solid riff that maintains throughout.
This riffing, though, does have its drawbacks. I tend to know if I'm going to like a Zen Guerrilla song from the moment of its inception. Like other Guerrilla discs, this one drags a wee little bit midway, but overall it is great stuff--"Barbed Wire," "Inferno" and "5th and Cecil B" are worthy enough alone to keep this album up with their other works of high quality.
Ah, I will miss them, but I will keep playing out this disc.
"
5 Dutch! Rating
Stig Rodent, freedom fighter | Wilmington, DE | 09/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While I am a big ZenG supporter, I was always hesitant to reccommend their albums to people because of their unique sound. I won over many a convert by getting them to go to a live Zen G shows first, which are arguably some of the most incredible performances you will witness/hear. However, this CD changes all of that. It shows a great deal of growth both in production values and song writing. There will definitely be a new crop of Zen Guerrilla fans from this. Dutch! Dutch! Dutch! Dutch! Dutch!"
Nice guitar work
Z. Strankman | Bejiing, China | 10/29/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"this stuff is heavy.....full of this just hard core thump massive rock vibe....it's good."
Probably Best Yet
steve | pittsburgh, PA | 08/31/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a fan of Zen Guerrilla for a number of years. This album is at least up to par with Trance States and argueably a better album. It is slightly longer than previous ZG albums if that was even of concern to you. The only gripe that i might have is that it for some reason wont play on my portable CD player, but i think that may be just my copy. This is undoubtedly worth the money."
