ANDROMEDA ZOO is a Rock/Hard Rock/Metal band based out of Speyer, Germany. Formed in 2011, this album presented for review contains seven tracks. "Starlike" is the opening song. It has light Rock sound with some dissonance in the partially distorted guitar riff, and an overall stark feeling. The vocals are heightened when done in dual harmonic parts. "Sorrow's Reward" has perhaps a more traditional Rock riff based on the low E key but with some variation here and there. I can draw some parallels with some of the sounds you might have heard from bands in the 1970's era. "Blood from a Stone" has a doomier sound from a heavier riff, almost as if BLACK SABBATH dabbled in more artsy Rock instead of just blowing out the bottom end of the genre at the time. "Lady Pamir" hears more unison in the guitars and still holding fairly steady in minor keys, at least in the verses. The chugging guitar parts in the interlude bring some more punch.

"Daughter Zion" is the longest song on the album, coming in at over six minutes when the rest of the tracks are right around four to five. It's more of a storytelling piece that has Old Testament fire and brimstone. "Nonumberland" has some surprising chord progressions and vocal and music connections at times, leading to an odd taste, almost like a steak with some unusual seasonings. Closing the album is the song "Heritage." The main riff leads the charge and runs for a while to set up the slower verses, which are light on the guitar but with more bass presence. Once again, I find an odd connection with the way the various parts are combined in this track. Sometimes it feels like the proverbial round peg trying to fit into the square hole. Overall, this was a unique listening experience and an album that, while retaining some old-school kind of tribute, was nothing quite like anything else I have heard in the genre of Rock music in a while. <