Composer/Musician Reacts to Zeal & Ardor - Ship On Fire (REACTION!!!)

[@brossjackson]

So the original idea of the mash-up for Z&A was combining "black metal" (in the usual sense of the word) with music of the slave era (work-songs, spirituals etc). This got fused to a concept album idea of "what if slaves turned to the devil as a hope for liberation/revenge", and things got pretty intense in a hurry.. This is definitely a good example of it. "Devil is Fine" was kind of a "hit" song, but it's really just more of a work song about the devil (without straight-up metal except as a whiff). I also recommended "Blood in the River" on the Patreon, which has the full mix. The second album mixes in bluesier elements, with a more tragic story line (slave successfully stages a satan-fueled bloody revolt, but finds in the end that a deal with the devil is never fully in your favor), and the album closer "Built on Ashes" is a gut-punch of a soul/metal hybrid.

[@thegrimner]

Gotta love Zeal and Ardour, right down to the fact it was essentially a project created to troll racists in 4chan.

[@thegrimner]

As to the album, yeah it makes sense to check it out as a whole, it's fairly short. The concept is more or less what if slave spirituals sang to the devil for revenge instead of praying to God. It's both rebelling against the slave masters and the religion they imposed, which is more or less where the occult vibes come from. More or less in this mashup vein, Algiers are definitely recommended, it's soul meets industrial meets synth goth meets political punk. Standout tracks are "Cleveland", "Blood" " Irony utility pretext" or " cry of the martyrs". They're all wildly different tracks going from soul to industrial to everything in between.

[@CriticalReactions]

That concept is fantastic and I'm eager to check out the execution of it in its entirety.

[@brunowilliam7529]

@@CriticalReactions The new EP is also really cool, I highly recommend that

[@moccles]

So Zeal & Ardor finally makes it on. Interesting song choice... sounds like one of their more bizarre tracks. Glad you chose it over Devil is Fine though. On their first album, their intentions are pretty clear. Short, concise "slave chant" songs with a clear Satanic message coupled with faster black-metally sections. It was a statement: "We are here". It was a surprising album in its originality and it took me a little while to warm up to it. Their second one, which this is from, is wider in scope, the bigger picture, showcasing the band's true ambitions. They've grown on me quite a lot and they're definitely doing something unique, and it's bridging the gap between fanbases from all sorts of genres.

[@azithoth6860]

Absolutely this guy deserves a full album playthrough whenever possible, the first album left me wanting more and I was afraid he wouldn't continue but luckily for everyone it got enough traction and here we are!

[@modefathy1205]

Shining - The Ghastly Silence black metal mixed with jazz

[@me_mads]

I'd also add Shining - Neka Morgondagen

[@liliIiliIilil]

The Norwegian band Shining has way more genre mashing, imo.

[@modefathy1205]

@@liliIiliIilil the Swedish Shining one of the greatest bands in the world if you dig more in they music

[@liliIiliIilil]

@@modefathy1205 I like the Swedish band a lot. Just mentioning that, since it's genre-mashing week, the Norwegian band is very experimental and has been for around 20 years. Their 2005 album, "In the Kingdom of Kitsch You Will Be a Monster," is so weird and incorporates so many different forms of music.

[@willp970]

Wow, how have I not heard of this guy before? It's amazing how well these styles work together without feeling forced like some genre mashups tend to feel. Thanks for reviewing this and spreading awareness!

[@camhorejs]

You gotta do Row, row and blood in the river when you listen to more zeal and ardor! Also I recommend the live versions. Their live performances are better than the album in my opinion.

[@Ivan-ow5xc]

*WE CAN'T BE FOUND*

[@YS9-9]

Yeah Z&A live is definitely the way to go, a must see

[@zerotm09876]

@@Ivan-ow5xc WARTE NICHT AUF DIE ANTWORT!

[@ClowdCow]

Row row hits hard

[@TheGeorgepao13]

Finally! I am so happy you reacted to Zeal & Ardor. Great song selection for introduction. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND, if you ever want to do an album reaction , it is a good band with high variety tracks (Stranger Fruit i think is their top album )

[@TheGeorgepao13]

Blood In The River from them is another good mash up example (although i find the recording/mix very off, i listen to the Off The Road Sessions recording). "Don't you dare" is also a treat!

[@progperljungman8218]

I'm really grateful for getting aware of this band (artist) through the recommendations. Great analysis as usual. If you check out Devil is Fine you'll see what we were talking about. Wonderful song, but almost all about "slave's heavy working blues" with a little bit of the metal guitars sneaking in at the end (if I remember it right)

[@justynsullivan507]

Stranger Fruit is a killer album

[@manueltavares5967]

What to say about their next self titled album, one of the best of 2022.

[@sVieira151]

Blood in the River is another fantastic choice. The rhythm of the main lyrical line is just so catchy and I think you'll dig it. I love how punchy this song is, especially in the latter half. You should listen to more Diablo Swing Orchestra for genre mashups! Perhaps one of their older ones, such as Guerrila Laments or A Rancid Romance.

[@jen.g.]

My favorite album of 2018! It’s so unique and well done. Cool story behind the project’s inception too, which has already been explained in the comments. Loved the reaction, Bryan! Glad you enjoyed this one. Maybe consider this for an album review? Just a thought.

[@CriticalReactions]

The album review would be cool especially if it's a collection of shorter tracks like this. I just can't promise anything in the format of album stuff right now with my schedule despite really wanting to do it.

[@jen.g.]

@@CriticalReactions Of course! Totally understandable. If you can’t, please check out more from them. Unfortunately there’s no heavier vocals in this one, but Manuel does a great job of black metal-style vocals too. Once touring happens again, they’re at the top of my list to see live.

[@Feel777]

Just leaving some ideas here: The Algorithm - Trojans (Electronic Music & Djent) Twelve Foot Ninja - One Hand Killing or Point Of You ( Funk & Metal ) Moon Tooth - Through Ash or Motionless in Sky (best way to describe is mix between Mastodon & Dave Matthews Band)

[@jen.g.]

I was about to comment saying he’s reacted to Twelve Foot Ninja because I could’ve sworn he did. But I just looked and couldn’t find it. If he hasn’t, I’d highly recommend them too!

[@Feel777]

@@jen.g. I looked it up before posting, but you know, that's funny because I also had the impression he had reacted to them before. Maybe it was deleted or sth..

[@NonymousJarrod]

Seconding The Algorithm - Trojans

[@NonymousJarrod]

That said, a better example of the genre fusion for The Algorithm would be the song Access Granted. Both songs are good, but Access Granted is definitely harder and more djenty.

[@charliebrayson]

+1 on TFN! So many massive tunes he could choose

[@xxkyudoxx]

Zeal and Ardor has such good music however, seen them on stage live and up close is whole different experience. I felt in love with their music after seen them as the opening band. I have never felt so excited about a new band since high school. this guys are amazing

[@pascalg16]

Opeth- The Garroter, its like swingy, prog rock jazz fusion. From their latest album , In Cauda Venenum (a 10/10 album for me)

[@progperljungman8218]

Great song, great album! But the vote is decided...

[@pascalg16]

@@progperljungman8218 Next time I guess, or maybe on prog week.

[@danieldbor]

A juggernaut of genre-mashup shizzle. I definitely need more of this 👍

[@bryanmartin8336]

Saw him live a few years back. Loved the album, but the live set was a whole different animal. Way more black metal than I'd expected, even knowing what he sounded like. Highly recommend.

[@misha_stupidyttookmyname]

Yes, live it's basically a wall of sound and I mean that in a very good way. I wasn't convinced by the studio version but am absolutely a fan since I saw them live, very powerful.

[@andersliffner6986]

Zeal & Ardor has released a new album and it's a an absolut smasher. Songs like Death to the holy or like Götterdammerung would be cool to hear you react to :)

[@CriticalReactions]

YES! It's on my radar. I'll see about getting a reaction out before I dive into the album on my own time.

[@TheSaniwaa]

Alright alright alright, it's time for Imperial Triumphant !

[@RedLineTheMov]

great vid hope you do more zeal & ardor 😁

[@rmidthun]

The chant at the end is from The Book of Abramelin en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Abramelin, it's supposedly a magic spell of some kind. The words make a pattern where the letters are the same reading right and down: DOREH ORIRE RINIR ERIRO HEROD

[@CriticalReactions]

Oh very cool. I'll have to look into the history of this unique chant.

[@johnathanlifsey9649]

It's a spell to know all things past, present and future. If you believe in that sort of thing.

[@rolandweigert5169]

I have seen them in summer breeze last year.They where absolute fantastic. Did not know them before. Was a really pleasant surprise. Mashup: The Hirsch Effect - LIFNEJ

[@kaptnkat]

Just found your channel and this was both fun and thoughtful watch. There was such satisfying "I know right?"- moments when I was anticipating certain parts of the song and saw you react to them similarly as well. Looking forward to checking out rest of your channel!

[@juhosuomi2551]

Yeah, finally some reaction to Zeal & Ardor! Their album Stranger Fruit blew me away couple years ago because I wasn't expecting black metal + soul mash-up at all and it worked really well. Impressive album from them and I've been listening it over and over again since I first heard it.

[@ubermalice9589]

Such a dope song! Great song, good reaction. You earned yourself a sub sir.

[@StoneAndMortar]

Maaaan I absolutely loved this!! What a fun tune! I couldn’t stop my head from bobbing the entire time. The chanting bits were such a fun touch/counterpoint to the raspy main vocal.

[@CriticalReactions]

Definitley. Just one of those earworm jams that just happens to be adjacent to rock/metal. Really cool stuff.

[@TheDragonBugg]

Well I'm definitely adding this song to my Spotify playlist, and will be checking them out... That was was pretty awesome, like soul rock.

[@mathurren1]

I’ve been introduced to so much amazing music and bands from this channel. Love it!

[@jonathanolson1185]

Anyone else getting a Maylene and the Sons of Disaster feel from this? As in Southern Hardcore? If you like this Bryan you need to check out more southern hardcore: Maylene, Everytime I Die (their early stuff) etc.

[@Dukhevych]

Wish you try again Unexpect, because their genres mashup is crazy. I suggest: Unexpect - Unfed Pendulum

[@CriticalReactions]

Unexpect definitely needs a return to the channel!

[@timwatchesmovies]

This band is an awesome find, glad I checked out this video

[@svanheesvelde]

I saw them on graspop and there was an applaus, so long we all cry and there was so much love xoxo

[@CriticalReactions]

That's awesome. I love when music can effect an entire room full of people in the same way. It always makes for powerful experiences.

[@jthomashair]

This album is great, it was my favorite of 2018. Their new singles this year slap too

[@crankydragon]

There is so much good Z&A. I would stick to the live performances when it come to the album "Devil is Fine" though. He didn't have a live drummer for the recording so he had to use samples. Not that it's a bad album but once you notice a difference it's kind of difficult to go back.

[@randomstuffzofdoom]

I really dig this, gonna need to check out the album. Reminds me a bit of the old days, when many of the black metal bands I used to listen to started to gravitate towards other genres.

[@cyberdrace]

One of several interesting Metal projects originating from my home town of Basel, Switzerland! Undoubtedly the most viral one at this point. It goes without saying that I'm pretty familiar with their music. It's good that this song was picked as I find the ones with more Black Metal influence to be somewhat less successful, the BM parts being fairly generic and not always blending/transitioning too well with the rest. I can't help but be slightly disappointed as a Black Metal fan, so I suppose it's best to leave those expectations at the door and approach this band with a more open mind. I would guess that the band came to similar conclusions, as they have transitioned slightly away from BM and more into heavy Blues Rock with this album. And besides, if I want excellent avant-garde Black Metal I can always listen to Schammasch, another great band from my town. They have a very meditative, spacious yet ecclectic sound with tribal-ambient influences among many others, quite cool and very evocative, occult and mysterious I'd say.

[@wolverine669]

Not gonna pick up any specific song, but name a few bands/albums, that come to mind Panopticon - "Kentucky" Bluegrass + athmospheric black metal Deveykus - "Pillar without mercy" Doom metal + Jazz fusion Norrin Radd - "Anomaly" Chiptune + Technical death metal No One Gets Out Alive - " Widowmaker" Bluegrass + Slam death metal Blood & Banjos - "Blood & Banjos" Bluegrass + Metalcore Untamed Land - "Between the winds" Spaghetti western + Atmospheric black metal

[@autumnphillips151]

Satanic music (especially when it’s female-fronted) is a hobby of mine, from the original Satanic band, Coven, up to the great modern occult revival that’s been going on. I love Zeal & Ardor because they, like Twin Temple, are a Satanic band that isn’t just doing spooky Satanism in their music but is actually using that Satanism to promote philosophical positions that I can support. Z&A were my favorite band last year-it really hits you hard when you first discover them-and I’m still fond of them (and Manuel Gagneux’s other project, Birdmask-he’s a very intelligent and creative guy), but they’ve since been replaced by Blood Ceremony, The Bridge City Sinners (whose recommendation video I found you through-thank you so much for doing that. I rarely ever subscribe to people, but I couldn’t help subscribing to you), Jess and the Ancient Ones, Lucifer, The Oath, Thundermother, and Twin Temple. I think you’ve got an awesome channel going here, and it would be so awesome-it would honestly mean so much to me-if you could post videos on Blood Ceremony (whose music has been called “flute-tinged witch rock”), Jess and the Ancient Ones (who do psychedelic occult rock), Lucifer (who do slightly doomy occult rock), maybe The Oath (who did classic occult metal), although they broke up almost seven years ago, Thundermother (who are actually a fantastic all-female band playing classic hard rock), and Twin Temple (who do Satanic doo-wop) like you’ve already done with The Bridge City Sinners to introduce people to them. Here’s one video from each of the bands that I hope would be a good introduction to them: “Goodbye Gemini” by Blood Ceremony: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIOtqIeJlJeAa68 “Astral Sabbat” by Jess and the Ancient Ones: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5nKiKuYZseLoac “Midnight Phantom” by Lucifer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaikd2BvopZlg9U “All Must Die” by The Oath: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raCrn3dpbs-IasU “Racing on Mainstreet” by Thundermother: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKCvnpaebJuWb80 “Satan’s a Woman” by Twin Temple: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3qraKB6mNR9oKs I really hope that you’ll give them a chance, and that you and others will end up enjoying them as much as I have :)

[@ckokomo808]

Hello! Been absent for quite a bit. Definitely been jamming this band for a while. Love their mashup of soul with black metal sounds and atmosphere. For me, it adds to the angst/despair/intensity. Their newest album “wake of a nation” is fantastic. HIGHLY recommend. Thanks for the video. I’ll slowly start catching up on the backlog! Peace, Chris

[@CriticalReactions]

Totally agree that the intensity of the music amplifies the message in the vocals. It's a really smart decision to get the most effect out of a slim lineup.

[@TheSaniwaa]

Or maybe Obscure Sphinx, it's another epic band and their last album is god tier

[@deminybs]

Bryan if you like this you'll love the Epica track I requested

[@alex.hettel.artwork]

I listened to the whole album back and forth for weeks when it came out. After a while I prefered the slower reduced songs like STRANGER FRUIT or BUILT ON ASHES. But all in all it´s great what he pulled off. And his band great live. Saw them twice.

[@TheLivirus]

React to *Locust Star* by *Neurosis.* Such an atmospheric, dark and brutally heavy sound. The group has been very exploratory and experimental in their composing.

[@andreas051193]

Hey man. Great work. I Think you should check out the band Mr. Bungle as well. They really influenced a lot of prog guys with their crazy mash ups of genres. I'm quite new to them so i don't know which song to recommend but they sometimes mix 5, 6 or 7 genres in one song which should't work but somehow it does.

[@camhorejs]

I’m pretty sure he’s done mr. bungle already a while back.

[@CriticalReactions]

I looked at one Bungle song a couple of months ago and I'm certainly intrigued by them.

[@christopherblowers443]

Another band that i forgot why they where in my catalog lol.

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

I've vaguely heard of these guys, but this was really rad. Beyond the genre mashup, I think what I really appreciated here is how it has this rootsiness to it that strongly recalls the origins of rock and blues, even a bit of country/folk. The metal elements were just icing on the cake, and I really like how they're used as a spice rather than being the main dish. Most modern metal is just so disconnected from its roots in rock and blues, which is fine of course, but every now and then it's cool to get back to the sound that started it all. I think it's why I've been back to enjoying AC/DC lately since that band has always been about the raw spirit of stripped-back blues rock.

[@stormblessed9546]

Great video man, glad you enjoyed 🤘

[@christopherblowers443]

Please do uneXpect- psychic jugglers. This band smashes 8+ genres in every song. Igorr is another band that does this. Please leave band and song recommendations under this comment. I love new stuff.

[@autumnphillips151]

I would love to provide you with song recommendations. Here’s one video from each of the seven bands that I’d most highly recommend: *Blood Ceremony* (flute-tinged witch rock): kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIOtqIeJlJeAa68 *The Bridge City Sinners* (punk folk): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYvFg2aui8p0adk *Jess and the Ancient Ones* (psychedelic rock): kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5nKiKuYZseLoac *Lucifer* (doom rock): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaikd2BvopZlg9U *The Oath* (classic metal): kzbin.info/www/bejne/raCrn3dpbs-IasU *Thundermother* (classic hard rock): kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKCvnpaebJuWb80 *Twin Temple* (doo-wop): kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3qraKB6mNR9oKs

[@ProgPro96]

I definitely suggest checking out Devil Is Fine on your own time, it's a really good song but not that good for a reaction video because it mostly just stays in the same pocket the whole time. But Z&A as a whole blends that bluesy sound with black metal for most of their tracks.

[@camhorejs]

The live video from a French TV Chanel is the best. This is a band that needs to be experienced live to get the full experience

[@merkaba_lite]

You gotta stop finding me new music lol

[@CriticalReactions]

I'm in the same boat. My wishlist went from a few new albums from my favorite bands to a huge list that is growing faster than I'm buying music 😀

[@lucasuusimaki7429]

Hactivist its djent/hip hop

[@jairenwasy]

What are they saying? Is that just fake Latin or am I missing something?