Zocalo - Providence E.P

It would be something of an understatement to say Zocalo have had a good year. The addition of an extra guitarist made them rock harder than ever and of course there was the small matter of grabbing a slot at Bloodstock, the primary festival for metal in the UK. Therefore, the 'Providence' E.P. arrives at a time when everyone is looking at the band.

This is the point where some bands collapse under the pressure. They spend years banging their heads against various walls to gain enough attention, only for it to end in disappointment. Fortunately Zocalo are made of sterner stuff and have produced a collection of songs which build upon their work and successes to date.

The band have never been about heaviness, instead relying on their southern groves to move their audience. E.P opener 'Swimming against the tide' manages to squeeze all that is good about Zocalo into a four minute and thirteen second statement of intent.

The fact this was recorded and mixed in four days adds a dirtier feel to proceedings, the sweaty riffs in particular sound as if they are lounging about at a local bbq rather than cutting the heads of spotty teenage metal fans.

The Clutch-esque doodling and sugary backing vocals on 'Concrete blues' are perfect examples of the subtle changes in sound which have added another dimension to their usual sun drenched platform. 'Carved in stone' may begin like an alcohol fuelled jam in someone’s back garden but their is a sinister Alice In Chains vibe running through the song, topped off by a perfectly placed bluesy guitar solo. Vocalist Sarah Humphries shines on 'Providence' which brings things to a close, ending the E.P. in style.

With this release Zocalo have continued their tentative climb. Now go hear these tracks live at Bloodstock and let the good times roll.