The problem with a lot of hard rock and metal albums (this one veers more toward hard rock) is finding something original to say about the music, the style, and the players, mainly because there seems to be so little original about the music, the style, and the players.
Zero Day is a thoroughly competent entry in the hard rock sweepstakes, from the thumping drums to the chugging bass to the mildly distorted guitars. If anything, it's light on the screaming lead guitar solos, possibly because lead guitarist
Hank Decken also sings. Vocally,
Decken is at least interesting -- he's got a voice that has the same sort of nasty sneering quality that the late
Bon Scott (
AC/DC) had. It's sad to see the potential of his voice wasted on the same old weary type of material -- it begs for really mean flip-the-bird-and-drive-105 songs. Once in a while the album threatens something of the sort, but blows it. "Action Reaction" never gets crazed enough, and "Walking Dead" seems to be about surviving for no apparent reason except to be baffled. ~ Steven McDonald