Zion

Item: Thunder From the Mountain
Author: Daniel Baillod

Thunder From the Mountain

(1988)

Reviewed by Daniel Baillod

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Label Image RecordsAdonai Metal Rock #3July 1989

blues rock hard rock heavy metal melodic metal

Translated from the original French

Whoah!! For a first album, ZION hits very, very hard!! David ZAFFIRO (BLOODGOOD's guitarist) produced this first vinyl effort: and the producer's job suits him very well, because "Thunder From The Mountain" has the benefit of a big sound, very clear. The AC/DC influences, very recognisable on their demo "Rock For Eternity", have softened a good deal (except on "He Loves You"), and so much the better!! Because ZION is in the process of forging a personality of its own. "Thunder From The Mountain" ("TFTM") contains excellent hits ("Who Pulls The Strings", "Is It A Crime", "Thrill Seeker", "Sold You A Lie",...), but absolutely not in the pejorative sense of the word: ZION is not a band of FM soup. This is good hard FM and a proper smash. And even if the keyboards are present, it is only exceptionally: "Who Pulls The Strings". ZION is indisputably a hard band. Note that of the 9 tracks "TFTM" contains, 4 were co-written by David ZAFFIRO. Note equally that these 4 tracks are among the most commercial (in the positive sense of the word) on the album. From certain angles, "TFTM" strangely resembles the last BLOODGOOD, notably in the use of acoustic guitar in the middle of a track... ("Is It A Crime", "Thrill Seeker", "Less Of Me"...). And that is not unpleasant. In fact, David ZAFFIRO worked hard on this album, and left his mark on it. As for the band itself, the four guys in ZION are accomplished musicians. Rex Scott's vocals are powerful; the choral vocals are gigantic ("Is It A Crime", "Who Pulls The Strings", "Thrill Seeker", "Sold You A Lie", "Roll The Rock",...). The guitarist does a good job ("Thrill Seeker", "Who Pulls The Strings", "Is It A Crime", "Roll The Rock"...). David ZAFFIRO also makes appearances on certain tracks. The bass/drums duel is properly solid: the drum sound hits like mad. The heaviest tracks are "Kick In The Gates Of Hell", and "Roll The Rock", as well as "Less Of Me". No slow on "TFTM", apart from "Help Me", which one could at a pinch describe as a semi-slow. In the final analysis, this first ZION album is frankly a smash, and promises a brilliant future for this band. "TFTM" is aimed particularly at fans of hard heavy, but melodic... ZION's lyrics are very much based on the Bible, very easy to understand... And ZION is not afraid to speak the name of JESUS CHRIST ("He Loves You")!! An album to get hold of without hesitation.