Customer Reviews

Til the Livin End

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Death Alley was released, I was so pumped, I listened to it practically every day. Not too long afterwards, I heard that the almighty Zeke broke up, and I was crushed. Where was I going to get more of my mandatory daily recommended allowance of ROCK? It was a dark time for rock and roll, since the two greatest rock and roll bands of their time (Zeke and The Hookers) were no more. Many faithful followers were lost. Many others kept the faith. Then came the great news.....ZEKE WAS BACK!
'TIL THE LIVING END easily surpassed their previous efforts, proving once again that rock and roll will never die! I didn't think it was possible to top Death Alley - such blasphemy! This album brings the rock to the people and shoves it down their throats. Combining the perfect blend of Motorhead and The Supersuckers (at their best), 'Til The Living End never lets you down. It's the gift that keeps on giving. If you can find the 2 disc special edition version of this album, your eyes and ears will thank you. The 2nd disc is a bonus DVD full of live footage from 3 cities as well as footage from on the road. If you don't buy this album you will be cursed to an eternity of being forced to listen to nothing but Yoko Ono and David Hasselhoff albums.

The interesting thing about Zeke is they always manage to sneak in some big change to their sound almost every album yet keep true to their core. The big change on this album is the clear movement into Motorhead territory with some sprinkles of stoner rock thrown in there. There's a new low end fuzz to the guitars that you've never heard on other Zeke albums. This gives this album an admirably beefy sound, particularly on the mid-paced cuts, but sacrifices that sense of controlled fury in previous efforts.

The three most blatant examples of this new sound are "Little Queen", "Dragonfly" and "Dolphenwulf". "Little Queen" is vintage Motorhead to the T. Marky even howls like Lemmy, heightening the effect as much as the Wurzel like solo. "Dragonfly" and "Dolphenwulf" sound like they could have been directly lifted from a Monster Magnet/Orange Goblin album. This is a bit different as in the past it's been hard to say Zeke sounded like anyone (with maybe the obvious exception of Speedealer on Dirty Sanchez) but there's some clear comparisons here. I have to say I don't mind it though, maybe because I'm a huge fan of the bands most directly influencing this record.

I've also thought Zeke is at their strongest when they slow it down a little which is the prevailing approach on this record. Yes I appreciate the blindingly fast cuts of albums past but the real fist pumping sing alongs that rule their live show have always been songs like "Daytona". My one gripe with this record, and the reason it's not my fav Zeke album, is they've also always held a special place in my heart for that go-for-broke, balls to the wall, "Kicked In The Teeth" sound. On this record there's a few faster paced cuts that smolder but nothing that really burns like the glories of past records. So while I think this is a great album and one that ranks high in the Zeke discography, I'd still have to give the nod to Death Alley as the best combination of the two sides of the Zeke coin.

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Zeke is one of those bands that I've always read about and seen their CD's and heard about them from other people, but I've never actually heard their music. unfortunately, I kinda formed a premature opinion of them before actually hearing them. they always seemed like a Nirvana or Green Day ripoff band to me. but recently I was lucky enough to see them live opening for Corrosion Of Conformity & Motorhead and I have to be honest, they really blew me away. they were nothing like I thought they would be. I immediately went out and bought 'Til The Living End, and I love it. these guys not only play punk rock really well, but they are way better than 90% of all the other so-called punk bands in this day and age. they have alot of talent. the guitarist can f*cking shred, man. its not just super-fast, sloppy, 4 chord songs that last 2 minutes. its so much more than that. these guys inject some bluesy heavy rock into their punk sound to spice it up, and it works. god damn, these guys realy cook.

this band is the equal of Motorhead. Even though west coast rock, sounds like punk straight out of the midwest. If you like american punk this band is it.

Some longtime Zeke fans didn't like this record. I have no idea why. It sounds just like all their other records and is way better than Dirty Sanchez. Just about every riff can be footnoted to Motorhead's Orgasmatron record, but that's a good thing! I think Zeke sounded great as a trio on this tour.

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I like this CD and everything Zeke has ever done but I have to admit it is my least favorite. It is maybe slightly too polished and more heavy metal/less punk than previous releases. I would recomend buying it but after reading all the other reviews giving it raves I was just wondering if anyone else still longed for the old "Runnin Shine" sound of their earlier albums?

First of all, there's no such thing as a bad Zeke album. They all KICK ASS!
Well, I was down at the record store the other day and I noticed some fool had decided to give up his copy of Dirty Sanchez... it was sitting there in the used section. Why anyone would part with their copy of that album is beyond me. But imagine my surprise when I saw lying there behind it, an advance review copy of 'Til the Livin' End. Now I had already placed my order for the one with the DVD but I couldn't wait so I bought another copy on the spot. NO REGRETS.
Zeke just gets better and better. More or less picking up where Death Alley left off, Til the Livin End rips right out of the starting gate with 700 horse power... as usual.
Donny, Marky and Jeff have only gotten better with time (if that's even possible), playing faster, harder, tighter than ever. It's nice to hear Diamond Jeff shining through on a few more tracks on this one. The songs are super charged and extremely well composed but without the slightest hint of softening up or slowing down.
Til the Livin End is just another jewel in the rock crown worn by Zeke. Five stars is not enough.
Now, if you're new to Zeke, you might want to start with Kicked In The Teeth or Death Alley. But as far as I'm concerned, every Zeke album is a five star album.
Can't wait to get my DVD edition. Can't wait to see Zeke on the East Coast again.
750cfm is gold!