Zen Motel - Rip It Off (Part One) (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Sleaze

Label - Corporate Records

Track listing:

01 - Note To Self Don't Die (Ryan Adams Cover)

02 - Opinion (Nirvana Cover)

03 - Sister (Therapy? Cover)

04 - My Pal (God Cover)

Following quickly on the heels of their Choking on the Chrome EP's, released earlier this year, Zen Motel present us with part one of their new covers album. Featuring just four tracks, and seeing the band tackle the material of some real heavy weights within the hard rock alternative scene with songs originally by Nirvana, Therapy?, Ryan Adams and God (the band not the big man himself!).
I have to say that I generally find cover albums rather hit and miss, but in the case of Rip It Off, Zen Motel have definitely nailed each and every song to perfection! In all four cases the band remain loyal and true to the original versions of the songs, yet still manage to put their own stamp all over them, and if I am honest I have to say that I prefer these four cover versions to the originals, especially Opinion, Sister and My Pal!

Very highly recommended!

Rating: 10/10

Zen Motel - Choking On The Chrome (Part 2) EP (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Sleaze

Label - Corporate Records

Track Listing:

01 - London Is Dead

02 - I Want Your Drugs

03 - Shatterproof

Brit rockers Zen Motel return with the second instalment of their "Choking on the Chrome" series of EP's  (they have decided to release their new album a series of EP's instead of a single album release!) and the follow up to Choking on the Chrome Part 1 that was issued back in April.

There have been a few delays to the release of this Ep, but what the hey sometimes life crops up and fucks the plans of the best of us, but by God was it worth the wait!

Choking on the Chrome Part 2 delivers three instant Zen Motel classics in the form of London Is Dead, I Want Your Drugs and Shatterproof.

London Is Dead opens things up and it could have quite easily been lifted from the track listing of the bands first two albums, 2003's Transform and Escape or 2007's Stations Of The Dead. Opening with a town crier calling "bring out your dead" before launching into a great riff that subsides to a great melodic and atmospheric verse before the riffs kick back in for the bridge and chorus. Great song! I Want Your Drugs is up next, this ones a little bit different, but awesome non the less. Opening with what could be a dance beat and bass line, before exploding into riffs that merge with some kind of New Wave keyboards. Bloody brilliant!

Shatterproof closes the Ep out. This one has a more laid back feel to it, but still rocks like a mother fucker!

With Choking on the Chrome Part 2 Lee and the guys deliver three diverse and brilliant songs that when added to the four tracks that made up Choking on the Chrome Part 1 give us almost an albums worth of new material, and what an album it would have been!

I'm hoping that there is at least one more instalment to this Choking The Chrome adventure!

Rating: 10/10

Zen Motel - We Want Your Blood (Remixed and Remastered!) (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Pop / Alternative / Modern Rock
Label - Corporate Records (Independent)

Track listing:

01 - Superhuman Colosseum
02 - The Pit
03 - Kill Your Radio (Feat CJ and Si Fricker)
04 - Death Rock City (Feat CJ)
05 - Cut And Run
06 - Bone Deep In Trouble (Feat CJ)
07 - Curse Of the Girlfiend (Feat Si Fricker)
08 - Trust Your Instincts
09 - I Will End This
10 - House Of The Dying Sun

Zen Motel have re-issued their 2012 album, We Want Your Blood! in a remixed and re-mastered form!

Now I thought the original release of this album was pretty darn awesome, but the remixing and re-mastering efforts of band leader Lee Potter really do make this re-issue something special. Everything sounds that much clearer, giving the songs that sharper more crystalline edge.

We Want Your Blood gives us Ten tracks, clocking in at just under half an hour, of angst driven hard rock with some great melodies. The following review follows the albums original track running order, which has been re-jigged a little for the re-issue, but I find myself putting them back in their original order!
Opening with the mighty Superhuman Colosseum, a weighty peice that declares that they have given up giving in before crashing into the The Pit which first saw the light of day on the Cranked EP, still an awesome track, full of energy and angst. Kill Your Radio is up next, a slightly more commercial song that features CJ from the Wildhearts as a guest on guitars and vocals (the first of three tracks to do so!) as well as Si Fricker. This is a great song that debuted via the internet last year, but still sounds great in its finished form. Trust Your Leader follows, again a typical Zen Motel song, filled with twists and turns, another great addition to the back catalogue.
Death Rock City follows, again featuring CJ on vocals and guitars. Here the guys turn the tempo up a little, yet this song still has a very commercial feel to it, a great song that should be a huge hit, again a song that debuted a year or so ago via the internet. Cut and Run is up next, a little more atmospheric to my ears, yet retaining all the punk angst and rock elements. A great song.
Next up is the last of the three songs to feature CJ, Bone Deep In Trouble, a song that takes the album off on a little tangent with its acoustic guitars and almost country feel, this really is a great song!
Curse of The Girlfiend follows, again a song that originally saw the light of day a year or so ago via the internet, darker and moodier than its predecessors, great fun and has a great video too!
The albums penultimate track comes in the form of I Will End This, a song that sees the tempo pick back up together with some great lyrics and riffs. House Of The Dying Sun closes out the album, a slower more epic track but more importantly,another great song  rounding off a great album!
There is so much energy and diversity presented on this album that it truly showcases the bands abilities as both song writers and performers!

This really is a fantastic remix and re-mastering of what was already a great album!

Plus its currently being offered as a pay what you think its worth deal here. so no excuses!

Very Highly Recommended!

Rating: 10/10

Zen Motel - Choking On The Chrome (Part 1) EP (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Sleaze

Label - Corporate Records

Track Listing:

01 - Hell Or Nothing

02 - I'm Not Sorry

03 - Choke

04 - Killing Me

Brit Rockers return with a brand new four track EP in the form of "Choking on the Chrome" (they have decided to release their new album a series of EP's instead of a single album release!)
The EP opens with the barn storming track "Hell Or Nothing", that has been floating around the internet for a little while now, a song that captures the vibe and feel of Stations Of The Dead release of a few years back.
Next up we have "I'm Not Sorry". a more melodic rocker of a track with a driven yet laid back tempo and feel. A great sing along chorus too!
"Choke" is up next. This song has a harder more in your face edge to it than its predecessors. Another great song to add to the slowly growing Zen Motel catalogue!
The EP closes out with "Killing Me". This is the classiest track on the EP. Sacrificing its guitar driven attitude for some real atmospherics. A really great song and a brilliant way to close out the EP.
"Choking On The Chrome (Part One)" is a brilliant release from one of the UK's most underrated and overlooked bands.

Very Highly recommended!!!

Rating - 10/10

The EP is available to purchase (For free!) here!