Zeroking
Andy Haught - Lead vocals
Shane Day – Guitars, backing vocals
Paul First – Bass, backing vocals
Christopher Webb – Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Huntington, WVa’s ZEROKING is a band defined by contradictions...hard rocking yet heavy, abrasive but anthemic, melodic w/ a gritty delivery and straddles the line between good taste and your Mom ... A gang of four lunatics who have taken Metallica, Motley, Guns, Sevendust, Wang Chung, Jodeci, cheap bourbon, cheaper cocaine, Sheetz nachos and Marlboro Reds, humped it all into submission and created the soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
Forming out of the ashes and associations of other past projects, the band released their first ep ‘The Sweet Sale of Excess’ an early collection of 5 of the songs that the band were playing live (several of these still find their way into the set to this day and are fan favorites). Then came the full length ‘Kings of Self Destruction’ a major step forward for the band with the album securing distribution and press worldwide. After a self released record “Empire of Sin” was released just prior to the pandemic and facing no way to properly promote it, Zeroking channeled its energy and frustration into recording their next batch of songs which upon completion reunited them with Vanity Music Group who had previously worked with the band around the “KOSD” release period.
The quartet’s new album, American Savior, is a swift kick in the teeth of a piece of work. Hitting off with “Timewarp”, a commentary on the extreme polarization of US politics in recent years and the forces that seize upon those divisions for their own gain, the song drags you thru various moods rhythmically, instrumentally and melodically, setting the listener up for an anything goes expectation of the various styles and surprises that follow on the next eleven tracks. Running the gamut of emotions from the lighthearted dance pop metal of “Back Off” the catchy high energy of first single, “Dead are Dancing”, cleverly disguising its lament of the mishandling and failure to control the opioid crisis, behind heavy danceable grooves and a simple memorable chorus hook, to the more serious somber tone of “Soldier Song” about the lack of care and resources addressing mental health of our military when they return from war.
Showcasing a wicked sense of humor is part of the mix as well with “Shut up and Get on Stage” a jazzy ode about overly conversational strippers trying to burden you with their problems when you just want them to do what they do best and entertain. Also included is a heartfelt rendition of the INXS ballad “Never Tear Us Apart”, further showing the band's range and diversity. American Savior was produced by Jason Baker at Metal Dad Audio and the band has already started laying tracks for future releases with him at the helm.
ZEROKING is a band that for over a decade has closed down clubs after one performance, burned bridges, rebuilt them, burned them again, pissed on the ashes and recorded subversive party songs about drug use, the government and strip bars. A cautionary tale...Definitely not a great career model but, no one knew they'd last this long, rock this much or be the perfect band to celebrate the Endtimes. Peace. Out. (Your money's on the dresser....)
