The soundtrack, while sometimes overlooked by the average consumer, is often the focal point of a film. Many times making or breaking the mood and emotions of happiness, sadness, triumph along with defeat, the music is imperative. Something Steve Moore and Anthony Paterra learned at an early age… it is exactly what inspired their teaming in the band Zombi.
Zombi, now creating sounds together for twenty-three years, at this stage are top creators in the realm of experimental instrumental music. Influenced by late ‘70s Progressive Rock bands like Italy’s Goblin (who famously scored 1978’s Dawn of the Dead, among others), Zombi’s first several albums relied heavily on synthesizers, and successfully crafted some mesmerizing Electronic music. Putting out a sound that makes you feel like you are within the thralls of an Italian Horror film made some time in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s, it was not before long that Zombi had a flock of genre fans gravitating toward them. Sustaining these types of listeners’ affection over time, Zombi has also expanded upon their musical approach over the years, not working within their multi-layers Electronic style, but also tacking on some more Prog Rock elements as well.
Truly a project so far outside the mainstream that it makes their dedicated followers smile in glee, now in 2024, Zombi return with their seventh overall studio album, Direct Inject. Set for release on March 22nd through their long-time label Relapse Records, Direct Inject marks their first LP of original material in four years; their last being 2020. Not a span of time absent of any music, in 2022 they teamed up with some friends to create their stunning covers album Zombi & Friends, Vol. 1. Something to check out should you have missed it, if you are also not aware, look into Moore’s soundtrack contributions to a list of more modern Horror films.
This all-in mind, Direct Inject is very much Zombi doing what they do best. True to form, Moore and Paterra create a stimulating collection of instrumental songs that detach you from the material world and cast you off into a world of sound. Perhaps a little hippie-dippie of a description for some, it still is the best way to relate to the soundscape of Zombi.
In enough words, their music is structured enough that you can follow it, but free in a way that it goes in directions you may not expect. Thinking that over for a moment, honestly, it is also the best way to describe Direct Inject; because the latest collection employs an approach that lets the music develop naturally. What this means is that Moore and Paterra appeared to have seemingly gone into the studio, powered up, and pressed record.
An approach that promotes spontaneity, you can feel the groove the duo is in throughout Direct Inject; and this includes tracks like “So Mote Be,” the very jazzy “Kamichi & Sandy,” but also the tension building “Insurmountable Odds.” A select group of samples picked from this nine song oasis, each has a different personality and unique attributes that help them stand apart. Although, yet they are separate, they also flow seemingly together; like the aforementioned “Insurmountable Odds” does into the track “Sessuale I” with ease.
Overall, Zombi continues to catch lightning in a bottle two plus decades into their journey. The music is fresh, authentic, esthetically pleasing, and painted with a delicate stroke of details that engages the senses. Simply put, Zombi’s blend of Prog Rock, Jazz, along with Electronic music is in top form on Direct Inject, and that is why Cryptic Rock gives the album 5 out of 5 stars.
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