The Zolas: Energy Czar
Jangly guitars, a catchy chorus, and genuinely smart if apocalyptic lyrics make this a summer treat.
By Kerry Doole
The Zolas - Energy Czar (Light Organ Records): We last heard from this Vancouver indie-rock trio back in 2016, when its album Swooner hit #2 on Canadian Alt Chart and helped win the band Best Group at The Indies in Toronto.
This return with a new cut is both welcome and timely. In a press release, Zach, Dwi, Coco state that "It's been a few years since we put out music. We've always been a little more political than other catchy groups and it's crucial to see the things we care about finally hitting the mainstream."
They're correct in noting that Canadian modern rock tends to be apolitical, but this tune is an exception.
Singer Zach Gray says, “The name Energy Czar came before the song itself. I wanted to write something about our delusions of domination over nature. How with climate change Mother Earth is starting to remind us that we’re not in charge here and never were.”
The song features jangly guitars, a catchy chorus, and genuinely smart if apocalyptic lyrics (“We’re taking a joyride forecast to crash with the sun. We’ve seen it, the zenith of our genus"). Energy Czar was recorded at 604 Records' studio in Vancouver and produced by The Zolas and James Younger.
In good news, The Zolas have declared a summer of Z DAYS, dropping a new track every month. Zach Gray explains that “We were meant to release the first single from our new album as we speak but our mutual friend the virus pushed things back till the fall. There’s this separate little batch of apocalyptic songs, though, that feel perfect for the moment so instead of wanking off all summer we’re dropping 1 tune every Znd of the month. June Z, July Z, August Z, Sept Z and then in October we'll release to the world the first single from our new album”.
The band will also release a series of Wong Kar-Wai-inspired lyric vignettes to accompany each Z Day release. “We’ve been fans of Wong Kar-Wai for years, especially his punkier 90s movies like Fallen Angels, and had always chatted socially with the Amazing Factory guys about doing something together one day that paid homage to that vibe," the group explains.
Links
PR: Susan O'Grady, Take Aim Media
Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez/Billboard France