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After the first time through Zero Down’s Looking to Start a Riot I was not particularly impressed. I felt like I’d heard this kind of dirty Hard Rock/Heavy Metal many times before. But the album started to open up on subsequent listens, revealing powerful riffs, sharp solos and some downright fun songs.

Zero Down’s style is early 80s Metal with a dash of 70s Hard Rock thrown in. Think Too Fast for Love-era Motley Crue mixed with NWOBHM bands like Saxon and Raven. Singer Mark “Hawk” Hawkinson does a fair Udo Dirkschneider so Accept comparisons are apt as well. Some of the songs are pedestrian but standouts like “Broken,” “Snake Eyes” and the speedy, tongue-in-cheek “Battle at the Battle of the Bands” show off some serious songwriting, not to mention musical, skills. I’ll bet this stuff is killer live.

Some label needs to swoop in and sign this band as they show a lot of promise.

1. Dead to Life
2. Year of the Rat
3. The Vulture
4. Broken
5. Last Days of the Crow/Knockout Brigade
6. Sweet Revenge
7. Snake Eyes
8. Battle At the Battle of the Bands

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