First Posted: 7/14/2014

Do you prefer your metal to be a mix of classic, lo-fi, punk, and a dash of psychedelic? Do you prefer your bands take themselves less seriously than most? If you answered ‘yes’ to either question, then do we have a band for you! The Zig Zags have been around since 2010 doing whatever it is they have been doing. Seriously… read their Facebook profile and try and make heads or tails out of it. Regardless of their group persona, and how flippant they may be about themselves, they clearly take their music seriously. Their self-titled album, “Zig Zags,” is certainly providing music that the public can headbang to together.

It may be 2014, but “Zig Zags” is filled with metal that sounds like it has been plucked right out of the timestream and the yesteryears of the genre. There is a buzz to their sound that is reminiscent of Black Sabbath, from Jed Maheu’s guitar and Patrick McCarthy’s bass. There are vestiges of classic Metallica in Jed’s vocals and lyrics. Bobby Martin’s drums are as driving as a Ramones track. This all comes together to perfectly form one big fist in the air throwing the “metal sign.”

Their self-made, tongue-in-cheek persona fits the music perfectly. The tracks on the album are metal to the core and are loads of fun. With songs like “Brainded Warrior” (and no, that is not a typo), “Tuff Guy Hands,” “Blazer,” and “I Am the Weekend” it’s really hard to not enjoy yourself while nodding along. There may be an air of cheesy goodness to the Zig Zags, as their songs always tiptoe clichés and tropes in their lyrics, but they aren’t a parody of the genre. They are embracing the fun of the past for the sake of the future.

– Rich Cicci, Weekender Correspondent

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