A Life of Crime

An outstanding debut is not only a good launching pad for the further career. As always, there are two sides of the coin. To meet again the high standard that you have set yourself also marks a burden. Zoetrope´s first album was such a debut so that the band was challenged to create a more than just good second full-length. Fortunately, the band proved its ability to make the right decisions even when working under pressure. The guys did not make a radical change of direction. As a result, "A Life of Crime" sounded (almost) as fantastic as their first album. The self-confident four-piece presented itself in a more matured way without denying its roots. The band did not speak of "Hardcore Street Metal" any longer, but its sound was still metallic and the lyrics dealt with down-to-earth topics one more time.

The album did not only shine with its highlights. Of course, the depressing "NASA" was excellent. Its lyrics thematized the tragic explosion of the "Challenger" that happened on 28 January 1986 in a very worthy manner. The brilliant riffing of the mid-tempo number emphasized the shock and the desperation of a whole nation. A lot of bands blabber that their lyrics are sociocritical without noticing that they are just stupid as hell. This tune shows them how it works. It was more difficult to define the climax of the B side. However, "Pickpocket", for example, represented the strengths of the band. Once again, the gripping riffs created a dark aura. Furthermore, short up-tempo parts increased the dynamic of the song significantly.

But "A Life of Crime" also convinced because of the remarkable fact that each and every song achieved a good level. No downers had crept in and Zoetrope avoided any kind of repetitiveness successfully. The band came straight to the point without being afraid of performing a somewhat more commercial number ("The Company Man"). Nevertheless, the four criminals were still full of energy. Fantastic speed eruptions such as the final track called "Hard to Survive" with its original guitar lines proved this in an impressing manner. Generally, it can be said that the work of the men at the six strings marked a major advantage of the album.

With regard to the production, there was nothing to grumble. The fresh sound set the focus on the aggressive guitars as well as on the boozy and raw voice of Barry Stern, the agile lead singer behind the drums. His vocal style lent the necessary credibility to the band. He did not possess the biggest voice volume, but he was authentic. Perhaps the same can be said of the musicianship of the whole band. Its members did not try to score with superfluous antics. They were focused on the songs that they kept relatively simple yet very effective. And it seems that they did not lack of courage.

The design of the full-length was phenomenal. The vinyl had two outer sleeves. One of them appeared in the form of a grid. When being pushed into each other, they created the impression that the band members were landed behind bars. Considering the album´s title, this was exceptionally a pretty nice gimmick. But unfortunately, the here described output was the last inspiring album of the seemingly promising band.

If Amnesty would serve as a Great Train Robbery for Illinois' Zoetrope, then A Life of Crime was their Godfather, their Goodfellas, their Untouchables, and perhaps the ultimate street metal album of the Midwest in the 80s. That doesn't mean it was perfect, just a lot better than other bands of the time and place performing with the urban aesthetic, and a leg up on the debut album. There is a bit more hardcore influence on this effort, and it's all around heavier than Amnesty, even in the vocals and drums of Barry Stern. There was a single lineup change, as Louie Svitek (Lost Cause, M.O.D., Mindfunk) replaced Ken Black on the 2nd guitar, but otherwise the core remains the same.

"Detention" breaks the prison gates with a volley of punkish riffing, enough energy to get the combat boots kicking in the heads of whatever mohawk or longhair was unfortunately to cross their path. It's not nearly as memorable as "Seeking Asylum", probably my favorite Zoetrope track overall, with an immediately catchy, classic metal riff that you'd expect more from some NWOBHM act that went on to legend. Pounding speed and flurries of unscrupulous leads help round out a pleasurable track that belongs on any compilation of great 80s speed. "Promiscuity" is also catchy, with a playful, driving guitar melody that breaks down into a thrash thrust. The song also features El Duce and Sickie Wifebeater of The Mentors doing brief backup vocals, as does the following "NASA", an obvious critique of the Challenger disaster, which chugs along with a punky swagger below the occasional lead or melody. "Unbridled Energy" is one of the band's faster tracks, Stern barking out vocals at a lower pitch than normal, and explosive like a more metal Sick of It All, with some pretty hardcore-styled lyrics. "Prohibition" is another fast as hell piece, a tribute to the gangsters of days gone by. The rhythm guitars beneath the lead are fucking intense, as are the leads themselves.

"Company Man" is another Zoetrope track to feature a solid Motorhead influence, balls deep rock & roll with some harmonics in the verse and clapping percussion, plus a kickass punk mosh breakdown for the chorus, very catchy. "Pickpocket" has a lot of bounce to the bass and a decent, faster paced guitar in the verse, but it's not one of the better tracks here. "Hard to Survive" compensates with a searing melodic intro and drumming momentum, the melody returning post-chorus as it thunders into the next verse. Rinse and repeat, until Barry Stern screams and the album ends.

A Life of Crime features some truly awesome songwriting, and then a few filler pieces between, which don't really disappoint, but don't blow me away either. "Seeking Asylum" is so good that I'm surprised it did not gain the band a greater recognition outside the Midwest thrash scene and radio underground, especially with a Combat Records deal in place. But, I suppose sacrifices had to be made in order to afford Anthrax and Metallica concert t-shirts, so Zoetrope never made the splash it could have. At any rate, this is their finest hour, so if you're checking the band out for the first time, begin here. It's a great album for caving someone's skull in with a pair of brass knuckles.

Highlights: Seeking Asylum, Promiscuity, Prohibition, Hard to Survive

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

This won't be the album that knocks you over with technical precision or monster riffs, but it is a fairly average speed metal album... and since speed metal is hard to do badly, even this album is a decently good listen.

All the songs are nice catchy speed metal, with the exception of "Company Man", which sounds like a thrashed up Grand Funk Railroad reject or something. It's not bad, but it's more rockish than the rest...

Highlights include "Pickpocket" with its nice Priest-ish solo in the middle, and "NASA" because it's probably the heaviest song on here. "Hard to Survive" and "Detention" are also pretty cool. The good thing about the album is that it doesn't get weaker as it goes on - the end is just as good as the beginning. Most of the songs really tend to ride one or two riffs, but at least they sound sufficiently different from each other, and none of them are stupid or overtly sexual at the expense of the music, or any of those other silly 80s tricks. The one song Company Man is a bit of a reject, but the rest of it is very nice and solid.