Rough Edge: Zen Vendetta CD Reviews

ZEN VENDETTA

"Out on the West Coast" (Self-released; 2009)

Reviewed by Snidermann

Every once in a while you stumble onto something or someone great and it's an awesome feeling. Well, we at Rough Edge have found just that in the form of Zen Vendetta and their new recording, "Out On The West Coast."

Zen Vendetta is the real thing: talented, tight and well-rounded musicians who really know how to rock. Their CD, "Out on the West Coast," simply has enough fire and drive to make it the kind of recording you want to hear again immediately after you finish playing it. A top notch recording.

Zen Vendetta shows all the talent of a band with decades of experience on "Out on the West Coast." If you like your music in the vein of Motley Crue or Velvet Revolver, then you'll love this one.

Check out http://www.myspace.com/zenvendetta or http://www.zenvendetta.com for more information on this awesome band and their great new recording.

"The First Four" (Self-released; 2006)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Zen Vendetta's "The First Four" is a collection of (you guessed it) four rugged rock'n'roll songs that combine the best of classic hard rock with a perfectly balanced modern edge.

Track 1, "Primed And Ready," starts things off on the right foot with a great, crunchy riff, an irresistible chorus and a fast, toe-tapping tempo. You'll be singing along by the time the second verse rolls around. This songs reminds me in lyrics and attitude of Elton John's "Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting," a truly great song even today.

Track 2 starts out a little differently. "I'm Alive" is a life-affirming anthem that builds up and eventually crushes like a great Godsmack tune;

"Fuel to Fill Me Up," track 3, is a mid-paced sizzler which really shows off the pipes of Scott Eckardt, who sounds like nothing more here than Geoff Tate of Queensryche.

The final track, "Waiting for a Train," is the token ballad and it's a good one. Reminiscent of a great Night Ranger song, but better, "Waiting for a Train" closes the EP out on just the right note.

There's a line in "Primed and Ready" that goes: "The music is so much different now, but if you play it with passion and you play it proud, they'll stand in line waitin'." Zen Vendetta play it both with passion and with pride and their EP is proof positive that those lyrics are a precognition - I'm sure they're already standing in line, waiting for Zen Vendetta.

At the moment, this EP is only available at the band's shows an on iTunes.

Zen Vendetta: Scott Eckardt - Vocals; Michael Gabriel - Guitar; Etan Mizrahi-Shalom - Guitar; Josh Wolfer - Bass Guitar; Tony Betanco - Drums.

For more information, check out http://www.zenvendetta.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

Back to CD Reviews Home

Back to RoughEdge.com Home