Zodiac
Grain of Soul
(Napalm Records)
Prolific German rock group Zodiac are back with their fourth album in five years, and their first with Napalm Records. Impressively, the band’s music has been consistently solid despite their inability to wait between releases. There’s is a sound that sits somewhere between blues rock and classic hard rock, with some stoner influences. Zodiac will undoubtedly disappoint if you’re looking for a metal record, and it’s likely that you’ll find this a bit too close to radio rock in that regard. To be fair, Grain of Soul feels incredibly safe, and some of that is due to the relaxed nature of the band. These Germans are fantastic musicians, and they effortlessly plow through these 11 songs.
While it’s quite unfair to compare this to, say, Nickelback, it’s clear Zodiac have become a bit too interested in comfort, and their effortless nature causes the mid-tempo tracks to feel boring or at least uninspired. Contrast “Rebirth By Fire”, with its head-bobbing groove and classically-fueled chorus (God damn, it’s so effortlessly catchy) with “Follow You”, which feels like a middle of the road radio rock tune, save for its neat bluesy guitar solo. When the band lets loose, that’s when things get more interesting, and it’s a shame they don’t do that enough. “Animal” is a rollicking number, reminiscent of QOTSA at their most buoyant. “Faithless” is all too familiar, but the band’s talent helps elevate the song.
That’s not to say this is ever a band record. The band’s disappointing indifference to pace is usually saved by either the musicians’ talent or a neat hook. “Crow” is an example of how to properly slow-build using acoustic guitar to great effect, and it highlights that the album’s best tracks just eclipse the weaker ones to the point where the weakness feels even weaker by contrast. Grain of Soul is still a remarkably fun bluesy rock record. It’s just a shame they didn’t put together a whole record up to a high standard. Maybe their prolific nature is finally catching up with them.
Purchase Grain of Soul here: Physical | iTunes
