Every new band that comes around showing out its new stuff always receives the same reactions like "It sounds like..." and sorts. Well, we can't live without comparisons can't we? When it comes to sharing the same qualities, I usually tag IRON MAIDEN or JUDAS PRIEST followers, as even extreme Metal with its dark and crude morals is a fan or deeply influenced by the MAIDEN or PRIEST. However, this time I was caught up with BLACK SABBATH sympathizers that really seems to like the 70s grooves and gloomy feels of Hard Rock and Metal. These guys from Norway created a four piece band named ZAED and on their own released an album named "I".

BLACK SABBATH may seem to be ZAED's higher priests, yet their material also showed signs of TYPE O NEGATIVE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and even a little bit of MOTORHEAD. Those fuzzy sounded like riffs that can be considered as a legacy signature notes of vintage times, took nearly most of my devoted attention. In general, it was like listening to old SABBATH albums but with a different vocalist. Some of the rhythms, not only the guitars but also the other instruments, are in the vein of some of the classic tracks of the reunited Brits.

Talking about a different vocalist, Mr. Jessen has a fine tune up of the late Peter Steele and PARADISE LOST's cold fronting voice of Chris Holmes. Jessen's voice can't be compared to Ozzy's as it is hard to compare almost anyone to Ozzy's steely throat. However, Jessen is in the right spot, although sometimes feels like a soulless style of singing, it fits the gloominess of the songs.

Through "I" I found that ZAED also made sure that at least some of their songs would take a sort of an exit out of their down like tunes. I liked "Pools Of Fire" that unleash some energies out that were probably stuffed in for too long. With a sort of lyrics that might resemble something out of TYPE O NEGATIVE's "Bloody Kisses", this one rocked hard, a truly amazing work. "Silverlocks" is another song to check out as it stepped out of the 70s and into 80s like Heavy Metal in the ranges of SABBATH with DIO.

In overall, I think that if the album was in close proximity to those two songs I mentioned, it would have been a lot better for both the band and future fans. Not that the SABBATH oriented material isn't good, it is but it wasn't exciting through ZAED but through SABBATH. I am not saying that ZAED should take a different route since they have stuff that can move them forward right here.