Music of Erich Zan [Import, Original recording remastered]

Mekong Delta | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Zardo
• ASIN: B000026W48
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,454 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Age Of Agony

2. True Lies

3. Confession Of Madness

4. Hatered

5. Interludium (Begging For Mercy)

6. Prophecy

7. Memories Of Tomorrow

8. I King Will Come

9. The Finale Deluge

10. Epilogue

11. The Gnom

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars played it non stop for weeks, February 2, 2006

By 

Music Fred "Fred" (Stockholm) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music of Erich Zan (Audio CD)

I remember buying this one back in 87-88 and after about two listenings I merely thought it was ok. Then I began to hear all the different layers of bass playing and riffing and played it non stop for weeks. I will never forget the first time I played it for my drummer at the time, in my car stereo. During our trip he crouched lower and lower towards the speaker, almost falling out of the seat. "What the eff is the drummer doing?" The song was Prophecy, which has a wild intro and one of the best endings of any thrash song ever, just a maniac unpredictable pounding section which seems to be changing all the time. The record and the band was a huge influence on me, allthough I never liked the vocals. In some way I owe my current occupation with wrtiting avant-garde orchestral and chamber music to this record.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of left field..., August 15, 2005

By 

praj (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music of Erich Zan (Audio CD)

This came out in 1988 and almost defined technical thrash (along with Watchtower perhaps). Virtuouso progressive riffs that just didn't sound like they belonged in a thrash metal song, complex fast drumming that was ahead of its time and a dischordant, wierd-ass, manic feel to it all. I remember my ideas of what to expect from music being challenged listening to this for the first time.

Age of Agony is a reasonably straight forward (relatively speaking) fast thrash, True Lies has one of the most interesting riffs I've heard along with some challenging chromatics and fast drumming with many time changes. Confessions of Madness is more stright ahead medium pacer with a cracking thrash section with solos at the end. Hatred is a difficult one, absolutely manic and hard to listen to. Interludium is a masterpiece incorporating a real quartet or orchestra with crunchy guitars (interesting idea back in 1988!). Prophecy is another fast one which cracks from the start but sorta loses its way (only a bit). Memories of Tomorrow is one of my faves, pretty much perfect melodic techno mid pacer. I King Will Come is sloooow, i remember thinking it must have been slowed down in the studio when I first heard it, but it's not, it's deliberately played slower for effect, brilliant. The Final Deluge finished with a flurry of solos from both guitars and bass, it cranks. The last two songs are exactly what they say, epilogues of the quiter atmospheric type.

The things that let this album down are some strained off-key vocals, a good sound, but without the decent bottom end the first album had, and a couple of moments that don't work. But if you wanna hear some riffs that you may never have heard before, some great technical thrashy solos, bass solos and some really challenging music then check it out.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT EARLY PROGRESSIVE METAL, October 10, 2005

By 

T. Hardin (seaside,oregon) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music of Erich Zan (Audio CD)

this came out originally at the tail-end of the thrash era and just before death metal more or less took over.not quite as "math metal" as Watchtower,nor Sci-Fi as Voivod i felt they had their own sound.the H. P. Lovecraft theme to this disc i always enjoyed,in fact conveyed a certain "lovecraftian" feel to several of the songs.

but wether you get the Lovecraft references or not,if you appreciate "thinking" man's metal like the aforementioned and others like Atheist,Anacrusis,Cynic,Death,etc you will love this!