THE ZICO CHAIN aren't so much a band who wear their influences on their sleeve as they are band who have them tattooed on their chests. The question to be asked is whether this a good thing or not.
In the world of The Zico Chain, it's the early 90's, and all music is American. It's all there in the songs – Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath – anything with long hair and black t-shirts. It's a summary of rock over the years – where Soundgarden turn into the Foo Fighters (although I would argue that there is more originality in The Zico Chain than FF, but that's just my contentious opinion).
The argument could be that this album is formulaic, ticking off all the metal conventions on the way. Rasping American sounding vocals, screaming, noodling, and pretty poppy choruses. But many people like this style of music, and although Food isn't a groundbreaking in any way, it may satisfy fans of the genre. The crunching guitars, the moment you can throw your head about and generally a sound that will get the mosh-pits lively. There's something quite friendly about their rage as well.
Some songs work quite well as further example of perfectly fine pop-rock. This is an album to sound-track teenage rebellion. When you're growing up, you need a band of your own generation to play the songs that seem to speak your feelings. It's probable than many pissed off fifteen year olds will be terrorising their parents with high decibel renditions of this album. We all had something like this in our lives, so let's be happy that todays teens have something like this to call their own.
They don't really change pace – it's loud, it's brash and yes, you've heard it all before, bur some will welcome this addition to their collection. It's hard to see how The Zico Chain will survive without finding their own sound, but at the same time, this is not an embarrassing homage to a bygone era of long hair and baggy jumpers, it's just some rock fans making rock music. Essentially, they do it well, and there is an appeal to them. Live they look like they're having fun, and that permeates into the music on the album. It seems awfully optimistic.
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In and amongst the big dumb rock persona, it's easy not to listen to what they're saying, but this is doing them a disservice. 'Pretty Pictures' tackles paedophilia – an angry rant, well told. Do you stare from the window and pleasure yourself?/Because a list won't protect you from anyone else frontman and bassist Chris hollers to open the album. 'Junk' tackles drugs in an unusual way - Dad said I wanna break down my love/I got a letter from the kids all wrecked on junk. Because of all of the rocking out going on, it's easy to miss. They're just not a band you expect to say anything meaningful. It's a shame they keep their best feature so well hidden.
The ideas are simple and the influences are plain for all to see. But this is an enthusiastic, well produced album that is good at what it does. There will be people throwing themselves about to some of the tracks on here in the rock clubs, and there's nothing wrong with that. They're certainly doing no harm. It's not one for the music snob, but it certainly has it's place.
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