ZapTown

Zeke
‘Til The Living End
2004 – Relapse Records

Origin: Seattle, Washington
Style: Metal

There is no one better who can capture the true essence of Motorhead than Motorhead themselves, and, well, Zeke. Like a steaming pan of hot oil barreling through cylinders, ‘Til The Living End, is a true testament to speed metal. They even admit it. In an interview in The Rock Explosion, they were asked, “Zeke vs Motorhead?” Their response? “Zeke the new Motorhead!” (http://www.therockexplosion.com/Interviews/ZEKE%20(05-02-2005)%20English.htm)

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and if it needs the speed, then grit up the guitars and push the pedal down. Zeke has never been shy of taking things to the limit, nor have they altered their sound much since their early ‘90s beginnings on Estrus.

One of the memories I have from MTV’s Hairbanger’s Ball is Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades.” The video is not spectacular. There are no dramatizations like the incredible “Killed By Death” where a big breasted woman gets snatched up by Lemmy as he busts through a house with his motorcycle, shocking both parents who are chastising their daughter for going out *looking like that.* “Ace of Spades” was the complete opposite. Unlike, say any Motley Crue video that was saturated on the program — especially the over-played “Smokin’ In The Boys Room,” that starred Vince Neil’s two-sizes-too-tight, stark white jeans and a silly hot pink with black polka dot headband that has been replicated a million times at any Spencer’s Gifts or Hot Topic — “Ace Of Spades,” is the pure essence of metal — the band, on stage, sweating and just allowing the song to run away with itself. You can see the tension in their faces, the intense fury in their eyes, and Lemmy’s whiplash neck with his signature strain to reach up to an over-extended mic that allowed for his locks of hair to drape down as he growled and pounded his bass.

This is what Zeke has aspired to become, even though their persona does not live up to the sounds they present. It’s not surprising that the band would take the attitudes of Green River or Mudhoney, which filter down to the classic Seattle grunge-like presence and their local surroundings. But thanks to Motorhead, power and speed overcame the slower tempos of their surroundings. “Dolphenwulf” is shot inside an empty warehouse as various clips of biker films break up the bands simple videography. It’s more impressive than the video for “Chinatown,” a name that gives hint to some high-action grindhouse scenario but ends up being shot inside a Northwest suburban home that is sparsely decorated and dismally arranged. The ambiance, despite scattered empty beer bottles and an army of denim, is unimpressive in a rock and roll sense, Not even a Trans Am with a bad muffler can save this video.

But this band is all about the music. Even though Zeke has everything to do with the house that Motorhead built, this band is no Motorhead. But now that we can define the limitations surrounding this band, we can conclude that Zeke has taken us there effectively and successfully.

As impressive as a comeback, which slimmed this band down to a trio, it unexpectedly made this a death wish by a metal bullet as the band called it quits soon after. Makes the album title more appropriate.

Cross-Reference: Motorhead, Tight Phantomz, Speedealer