As phoenix like rises from the ashes go, this was one to wet most people’s appetite. Zack De La Rocha, one of the preeminent and political lyricists of the 20th Century teaming up with Jon Theodore, one time stick man for The Mars Volta and whom the phrases “complex time signatures” and “hit it fucking hard” sit equally well on his resume. So two men with impressive back catalogs, but both of whom have failed to ignite and capture former glories on recent releases. Will their resurrection as One Day As A Lion prove a fruitful one?
Straight away you know what you’re letting yourself in for. The band’s name came from an infamous black and white graffiti photograph taken by George Rodriguez in 1970 with a caption reading “it’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb”. And whilst de la Rocha’s vocals are more tuneful than his Rage Against the Machine semi-rap delivery, the political and activist themes are strong, vibrant and fiery. It’s just a shame it’s let down by the actual music that goes with it.
‘Wild International’ blazes into life through a thunderous, reverb drenched keyboard whilst the top-hat heavy drums skip around it. Semi-religious themes entwine with de la Rocha’s usual war-tinged lyrics. It’s the keyboard that takes centre stage though, its charm is in its simplicity. However, the musical mix never really alters from this. ‘Ocean View’ is dominated by the dirty, Add N to X-fibrous keyboards, the percussion once again quite simple yet a little more aggressive in its stance. The next two tracks also pass in a similar way. It’s only on the closing title track do we get to hear something more.
The keys once again dominate, but there’s a screeching set of notes that revolve around some synth-bass that makes this the pairs most sinister piece on the entire EP. The dual sounds of keyboard and percussion have never sounded so limiting. It’s as if de la Rocha has found a particular setting on his Casio and refuses to alter from it. Theodore sounds positively muted, his usual exuberance stifled in this simplistic setup, which is a huge shame.
With a full length album pencilled in for later in the year, and de la Rocha preoccupied with the RATM reunion at the moment, this is probably the best we’re going to get. But, with the recently announced fact that RATM won’t write or record any new material, One Day As A Lion looks a little threadbare to be a lasting record of both these artists work. It’d be nice to get someone else involved, expand their range. Instead, we’re left hearing two guys hitting limitations that they’ve imposed on themselves.
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
RATM is the only reunited band I’d love to hear new stuff.
Not only because I love them enough to have flown down to Italy to see their gig (they are the only ones to bloody not play a London date on a world tour), but mainly because the world has changed and their political statements needs some refreshing. NOt the music though.
Zack did well in this EP, problem is that I can’t hear his voice without expecting Morello arriving with some of his guitar tricks soon after.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I was a bit disappointed by this EP to be honest. It just feels so simplistic for the most part - you expect de la Rocha to have the complex, heavy backup of RATM but here it’s just a fella with a keyboard and a good drummer.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I liked this EP overall. It’s a but samey overall but I don’t think it’s too “simplistic”. Sometimes less is more. In this case though, more variety would have been nice!
August 31st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
yeah i liked the first track a lot. a was really excited by it. loved the drums and use of synth over guitar too. but by track 3 it was same old same old. RATM were always pushing new ground thanks to tom morrello - that guy is/was a total inspiration.