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When
our reviews editor describe their new album 'Specs of Pictures Burnt
Beyond' as "...one of the most powerful and awe inspiring
progressive metal albums of the year..." we knew we just had to
catch up with guitarist Jasun Tipton to find out more.
MM
- Hi
Jasun,
firstly I'd like to say thanks for
taking the time out to take part
in this interview, we really appreciate it.
Jasun
- Thank you bro for wanting to
help spread the word about Zero Hour. We really appreciate it.
MM - The
bands new album 'Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond' is just fantastic, how
long did it take to put together from the initial idea to the finished
product?
Jasun
-
We
started writing material for 'Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond' November
of 2005. It took us a good eight months getting all the material
written. Troy, Mikey and I would create a whole song from a
starting idea. We try making the writing process as organic as
possible. More letting ideas flow from what was being put together
in the studio from all the members oppose to someone writing material at
home and bring the song ideas in the studio for everyone to learn.
We find it's a better process because it lets every member in the band
have their own voice in the music.
MM - The
album sees Chris Salinas on vocals, how did he become involved in Zero
Hour?
Jasun
-
The
band was always a fan of Chris's vocals and we knew from meeting him
back in 2001 he would be a great fit not only as a vocalist as well a
being a friend to the members.
I called Chris initially just to do live shows because
from what I was aware Power of Omens was still going. Chris
told me immediately that he's a huge fan of Zero Hour and would love to
be a part of the band if we want him.
I just made sure about his situation with Power of Omens
and he said they were on their last leg so this was a great opportunity
to have the right guy in the band.
MM
- The band have received some
great reviews with their previous albums, how do you feel this album
stands against those previous releases?
Jasun
-
I feel
it's the strongest release Zero Hour has had to date and that's not easy
to say due to 'The Towers of Avarice' being such a strong CD.
We've been very fortunate to have put together some releases we're very
proud of and 'Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond' is a CD that's very
focused.
MM
- The whole prog metal scene has
really grown over the past couple of years, do you think that the US is
now at the same level of understanding of the genre as the hard core
European prog metal fans?
Jasun
-
I think the young generation is
seeking out technical music which is great for us. It's still more
accepted in Europe but it's growing in the States I'm happy to say.
MM
- The band has a mature sound
from such a young base of yourself and brother Troy, do you think that
when you first started you perhaps weren't taken seriously because of
your age?
Jasun
- You do have people viewing
you looking at us before saying how are these going to impress me.
What's always the best feeling is when you get people coming up to you
after the show and saying man I didn't know you guys were that deep, you
blew me away. It's great to hear because there's a tone of hard
work put into our material.
MM
- The new album is one of the
best progressive albums I've heard this year, are you happy with the end
product or is there anything you wish you could have done differently,
or perhaps included but simply didn't have the space?
Jasun
-
Thank
you so much for the kind words and I'm very happy to hear you enjoy the
CD that much. I'm pleased with 'Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond'
and I think we gave it everything we had. I can't say we could
have given more because the material took everything out of us both
mentally and physically.
MM
- Which song(s) off the new
album are you particularly proud of and why? Which are your
personnel favourites?
Jasun
-
That's a really touch one to be
honest because all the material is very strong. I would say 'The
Falcon's Cry', 'Evidence of the Unseen', 'Face the Fear' and 'Embrace'.
The music in 'The Falcon's Cry' just has amazing dynamics musically and
vocally from start to finish. Musically the song really took shape
on it's own from the crazy sequences of the bass, guitars and drums
playing totally different repetitions came full circle joining at the
end.
After the chaos, beautiful lush clean tones gives the song all new
atmosphere. The vocals and lyrics are beautiful and are based on a
man in the later stages of his life doing something he loved when he was
young and strong. He takes the strenuous journey up in the
mountain and fights his way to the top to see the beautiful view his
eyes wanted to see one last time.
'Evidence of the Unseen' is about wanting to give to those you love and
care about most in the world. Always trying to reach those impossible
dreams to make a better future for his loved ones. The music is
heavy, in your face with an amazing heavy, catchy guitar riff.
This song is one of my faves to play live.
MM - The
last couple of years have really seen the band come out of the shadows
and into the spot light, has it been all good or has it had it's
downside?
Jasun
-
The only downside we had was the
singer before Chris was very unpleasant to work with. The band is
really tight now with all the members in place. It's great to see
we're getting a lot of coverage of late. The band loves to create
and when it's being well received by the fans and press it makes you
feel great.
MM
- If
you had the chance to describe the music of Zero Hour in a few words to
try and advertise the sound to some ears that have never heard your
music before, how would you do that?
Jasun
- Dark,
heavy, technical material that keeps the listener interested many plays
over.
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MM
- Do you think the
internet has been a viable tool for connecting you and your fans
now that the industry seems to focus on the flavor of the week?
Jasun
-
The reason we're what we
are today is due to the internet. When we first put out
out self titled Demo the band had never played out before.
Our webmaster Buddah pointed us in the right direction of some
message boards and forums. We gave people a link to buy
our material and to hear a song.
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Vendors
started coming our way wanting to buy CD's, labels came our way with
interest to sign us and magazines wanted our material to review.
When the reviews started coming out we sold 2,100 copies we made.
We were being interviewed by major mags in Europe and helped pave the
way with us signing a deal with Sensory Records.
MM
- Which do you enjoy more,
writing and recording or playing live?
Jasun
-
I enjoy
both just as much for different reasons. Live you get to interact
with the crowd. When you perform well the crowd will go crazy for
you. You feed off the crowd and you'll want to give more and so
will the audience. Writing and recording is creating a part of you
musically and sonically. It's great to see and hear everything
come together and the separation of all the instruments working
together..
MM
- How do you think the Zero Hour
sound has grown since the bands debut release to the new album?
Jasun
-
The
biggest thing is we know exactly the band and sound we are. In the
beginning you're searching for your sound and voice in the genre.
Now we have our own sound and we want to build from what we have created
and making it better each time.
MM
- How
many songs did you have to write before you came up with the final
tracklisting on the album?
Jasun:
We wrote exactly what was put together on the CD. We have a good
idea what to strive for now and wont accept something that's not flowing
right away. We just go in and start jamming from a riff and let it
grow from there. As of late this system is what works best for us.
MM - Now a question on your musical
development. What came first: your technical skills or the vision
of writing your own songs?
Jasun: Both took
a very long time and I have to say we're still growing in both
departments. The thing is every CD we put is the best to our
ability writing and playing at that time. We're not holding back
in what we do, we give as much of our abilities in both areas.
MM - Do you have any plans to tour the
very lucrative European market to promote the new album?
Jasun: We just
have been confirmed for the Headway Festival in Holland April 7th. We'll
be doing additional dates in April with Into Eternity and To-Mera and
should have some dates confirmed soon. Please check our websites
www.myspace.com/zerohourband.com and www.zerohourweb.com
for future dates in Europe. We're very much looking forward to
this.
MM - Finally do you have any words for
all your devoted fans out there?
Jasun: Thank you so much for all your
support and we can't wait to see some of you in Europe. Please
come up and say hello to us we're very approachable. YOU ALL
RULE!!!
MM - The bands new album will be released in January on the Sensory
Records label. If you like progressive metal then check this
release out, it doesn't get much better than this. |