Sure, you can detect the grunge influences: Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots. But to paint Zelazowa in a retro-90s corner would be a huge inaccuracy. Akin to all great bands past and present, this Philadelphia quartet has honed their craft on the road - playing hundreds of shows opening for Jimmy Chamberlin Complex (Smashing Pumpkins) among others. After nine months in the trenches it’s no surprise that this blistering EP exudes the vehemence of a live performance. The dueling vocals of Bryan Weber and Ian Sharkey afford the songs a neo-psychedelic haze, yet there is no mistaking their hard rock ethos. “1000 Smiles” and “When the Sky Imploded” are heavy-handed, in-the-pocket anthems worthy of the aforementioned references. The ballad “Interlope” has a jazzy feel that you’d love to hear Cassandra Wilson tackle. “Generation Mantra,” the final cut, is an arena rocker chiseled in the mold of Bono’s crew. Four songs clocking in at fifteen minutes total is too little from a band that has much to offer.
--Tom Semioli
