“I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees.“
My first foray into the legendary Zebrahead was with their 2022 release, III, which jumpstarted this series of EPs that have spawned from the same studio session. And now, after a bit of a wait, they are on the cusp of giving their fans the next instalment, II.
The outfit announced this follow-up EP with single “No Problem” which did not immediately impress me upon its release. If you’re in the mood for a care-free pop-punk anthem, then this track is for you. “I just wanna get drunk and be sober when I feel like it” is the throughline for it sung by new vocalist Adrian Estrella. Just by quoting that lyrics, one can surmise the general sound and tempo of the track, and one would be accurate. Ali Tabatabaee’s unique rap-screamed vocals are always an aspect that separates Zebrahead’s discography from their contemporaries, but he’s used sparingly on this one. All that being said, I could see this song hitting come this summer. I just happen to be writing this in the middle of January.
“Licking on a Knife for Fun” is a notable improvement with some fast-paced riffage backed by catchy contributions from both vocalists. “I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees” is a simple yet effective turn of phrase that does hit given the energy and vibe of the song.
And the upward trend within II continues with the banger “Evil Anonymous” which sports some ska horns akin to Streetlight Manifesto. Their main use comes on the bridge, but I think the subtle flares tacked onto the end of a verse, for example, adds a greater quantity of quality to the song. The strong intro to the track also sets a great tone thanks to the horns. The rest is mostly par for the course for Zebrahead, but the vocal performances bring the right amount of energy. Ali’s “suffer, suffer” adlib is an especially strong aspect in particular. And the instrumental additions outside the horns also are pretty dynamic respective to a lot of the band’s output.
And while “Middle Seat Blues” feels like it’s doing absolutely nothing that any other basic rock track can’t do, “F.L.F.U.” (Fuck love, and fuck you) ends the EP on a great note. Zebrahead often have pop-punk elements to their tracks, but this one manages to dive fully in it, while feeling modern. Estrella’s vocals do possess that gritty, beaten down feeling that the best pop punk vocalists manage to channel. Ali’s verses don’t manage to do more than fill the space between Estrella’s verses, however.
And just like that, Zebrahead fans have only one more upcoming EP before the band’s release schedule once again becomes an unknown. I think this is a solid entry, and about matches the quality of III.
6/10
You can pre-order II here before its release on February 3rd, via MFZB Records/Avex Group.