Clawing their way out of our mutual Covid-imposed prison, KING ZEBRA has emerged with a new album! "Survivors" is out, and here to give voice to the confusion, loss, and rage of those who've suffered during the last 2 years. While I was initially concerned it would consist of the yowling of victims, I found out very quickly how wrong my first impressions were! KING ZEBRA didn't just sit around complaining during the lock-downs. They spent the whole time listening to others, finding common cause, and crafting anthems, that reflected the feelings they shared with those they heard!

When I review bands like KING ZEBRA I ask myself "Why won't the 80s, and glam-metal just die?". And typically, by the end of the review, I've found that the album I just reviewed couldn't have been made in the 80s. In "Under Destruction" thematically, one is immediately enveloped to the ears, in straight 80s-class riffage, and lead breaks ala POISON. However, if you listen closely, you can tell, that unlike the 80s, these guys aren't really here just to rock the house, and try to score with your sister. These guys have a message, and it's really quite current.

The album seems to go through an evolution of sorts. Songs like "Under Destruction", "She Don't Like My Rock & Roll" , and "Desperate" depict a man whose sense of social structure is crumbling. He's loosing friends, and his traditional sources of income. In searching for some sort of companionship to help him through his personal collapse, he finds his very being, and sense of integrity stretched beyond any point he thought was "normal". He's stealing, and scraping every dime just to survive, and all the while, his character, and simple tastes are under scrutiny by those he is depending on.

By "Wall Of Confusion" he's recognized that his current situation cannot last, and that he must at some point, entirely disgorge himself for the sake of his sanity, and a destiny he can see emerging ahead of him. It's at this point where his evolution begins it's next phase. "On The Run". His vision has solidified, and he knows what he must do. Mountains of resistance face him, but he is running light,  taking back alleys, and finding rest where he can along the way. By "Rush", his teeth, and claws have been hardened by his survival on the streets. He's taken on a predatory swagger, is of singular purpose, and not even the "Hot Cop Lady" he encounters can keep him restrained for long.

Until this point in the album, the listener is just given one person's perspective, as if he was the only person experiencing the trials, and tribulations described. By this time, that man has come through the worst of his challenges, and looks around only to find that no, he was not alone. "We're The Survivors". Although he'd always thought he had to complete his task alone, he's found that he's not the only one who has been through what he has, and feels the way he does. "We Are One" in common cause, and have chosen use what we learned through our survival to "Be The Hunter".

I kind of wanted to crap on this album due to the 80's glam/hard rock presentation. However, as I noted to begin with, this music wasn't even possible back then. In the sense of capabilities it was possible, but music is cultural, social, and evolves over time. Fads, and genres rise and fall. Leaving behind artifacts of style, tone, and technique that didn't exist before. I caught bits of bands like DEF LEPPARD, AEROSMITH, PINK FLOYD, and even a little STEEL PANTHER throughout this offering. None the less, the album is still unique, and fresh, even if you're well versed in 80s-90s hard rock/glam metal.