Zodiac – Sonic Child
Release Date: September 19, 2014
Label: Napalm Records
Zodiac’s 2014 release Sonic Child just about got swept under the rug and buried by other releases but thanks to my list making skills, I noticed that this one totally got missed. The minute I popped this one in I thought to myself, “Why don’t I listen to these guys more?” The minute the album kicked in with it’s spacey psychedelic funk intro of “Who Am I” I scratched my head and thought, “Is this the same band?” Well, the minute “Swinging on the Run” kicked in I just felt this wave of bliss hit me as I just smiled and realized that I was hearing something really fucking special.
The title track “Sonic Child” is a hefty dose of psychedelic rock n’ roll that can best be described as The Cult meets Black Sabbath with Mark Lanegan on lead vocals. There is absolutely nothing that sucks about this. “Holding On” is a warm, fuzz laden guitargasm with a groove that made me feel as if I was cruising the desert in search of something. Where the fuck did that come from? I have no idea but hey, I just call it like I hear it. “Sad Song” is a Mark Lanegan ballad all the way with its whiskey soaked vocals and dark, brooding undertone. In a time where it seems like so many bands are sounding like Black Sabbath, I find it really fucking cool and different that something comes along sounding like one of my all-time favorite singers’ material.
Don’t get me wrong, while they are very reminiscent of Lanegan, Zodiac’s songs are all their own. Their songs are infectious, well written, and as a whole Sonic Child is one hell of a listening experience. Matter of fact, this album is so fucking good it sent me going back to their previous releases which are just as great. Sonic Child is a plethora of face melting, sonic blues/fuzz driven no frills rock n’ roll. This is without a doubt one of my favorite albums of 2014 and it literally came out of nowhere for me. It’s discovering bands like this that make me so excited to do what I do. Zodiac is a band I will be keep a close eye on and an ear to the wall for. You must get some of this in your ears, head, and heart. You’ll be glad you did.
About The Author
