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Friday Full-Length: 7Zuma7, Untitled EP

7Zuma7, Untitled EP (1998)

7Zuma7 — or 7 Zuma 7, if you’re feeling more spaced out — weren’t necessarily the earliest heavy rock band out of the Netherlands. That title might belong to the likes of 35007 or Beaver or Celestial Season, but the Eindhoven-based four-piece weren’t far behind either, and the 1998 arrival of their untitled debut EP put them right in line with what one might consider the MySpace era of heavy rock — a moment of burgeoning, pre-mobile social media engagement and, with the arrival of higher-speed internet in more places, the ability to stream media. They got their start in ’95, but by 1998, the “stoner rock” wave was well enough underway in the Europe and the US alike, and 7Zuma7 were particularly adept in taking influence from all that was going on around them and bringing it into their own context. Sure, their logo/cover art was of its era, but the straightforward push in their material on the five-song/22-minute outing, which presented a cover of Donna Summer‘s “Hot Stuff” as its centerpiece that turned disco fever into ’70s rock swagger and seemed to be in conversation with the likes of Kyuss, Roadsaw and Dozer on the six-and-a-half-minute closer “Nugtohs” — “shotgun” backwards — was righteously positioned the band in the dug-in style of the genre of the day.

More than two decades later, the work of vocalist/guitarist Jerry van Eyck, guitarist John Peate, bassist Nick Sanders and drummer Jacco van Rooij on this first EP might seem like something of a precursor. Prior to calling it quits, the 7Zuma7 released Deep Inside in 2000 as their lone full-length. And they’re further notable for in 1999 working with bassist Miranda van der Voort, who by then was already a founding member of Toner Low. But while that might be enough to make them a footnote in the Netherlands’ heavy rock family tree, it’s the songs on 7Zuma7‘s EP that continue to hold such relevance. I feel like I say this about bands from this era a lot — and I probably do, so apologies if I’m being redundant — but taking 7Zuma7 in comparison to some of the straight-ahead heavy and roll coming out now, and it’s like the 21 years between just melt away. If these guys were around today, they’d be signed to Ripple Music and I’d be writing about how awesome it was they were going to play at Desertfest and a bunch of other European festivals I won’t be fortunate enough to go to.

7zuma7 epIt’s not that heavy rock is a stagnant thing. If anything, the definition has expanded beyond recognition. But 7Zuma7, especially in tracks like the catchy opener “Velvet Slide” or “An Instant Cool” here, speak to a core groove and energy that in no small part works to epitomize the style then and now. You can hear it when you listen to Fu Manchu, and you can hear it when you listen to 7Zuma7. The inheritance of rhythmic swing is a big part of it, but it’s not the whole thing. In the second-half solo of “Velvet Slide,” or in the post-grunge drive of “Blue T.S.” and the slowdown that follows, it’s the kind of sound one has to step back from and say, “Yes. This is that thing.” To typify genre is not the same as to play to it, and in that regard, it’s important to remember that this was more than two decades ago, and even as 7Zuma7 weren’t the first to fuzz-blast their guitars and blow the doors off a surprising cover song, they were at very least earlier adopters of the style, and they would soon enough pay off the potential they showed on the EP with Deep Inside, while showing even more.

You know those hundreds of heavy ’70s bands who put out one or two records, were awesome, and then broke up? I’ll gladly put 7Zuma7 in that category. Listening to the rolling groove of “An Instant Cool” and the midsection break there that seems to foreshadow the outbound trip later in “Nugtohs,” yeah, the production might be somewhat dated, but the methods should still be familiar, and it’s hard to imagine that, sooner or later, some generous soul won’t dip back into this pool and bring similar “lost” outings to the surface for reissue and exposure to the now-two generations of listeners who’ve been turned on to heavy rock since it was first released. Maybe that’s wishful thinking, and I don’t imagine it’s the kind of thing that would entice much venture capital, but aside from its own merits, which extended both to songwriting and performance — that is, on the most basic level, it’s not 22 minutes of your life you’re going to regret spending — the tracks on 7Zuma7‘s EP represent a moment in the history of heavy rock that’s at this point relatively forgotten. And like all those bands from the ’70s who still seem to show up out of the blue, there’s a project waiting to be undertaken in exploring and rediscovering this moment. Where’s the Akarma Records of ’90s heavy?

While I, as ever, daydream about having things like money and time in infinite supply, I’ll go back and put on 7Zuma7‘s EP again and dig the raw drum sound, the way the vocals seem to ride over top of the riffs and the general swagger on display throughout. That’s all I’m advocating for here, ultimately. A revisit. Right now, we are once again awash in bands. It’s astounding how much stuff there is out right now. Between Bandcamp and a vinyl resurgence, a multifaceted movement of heavy is playing out. And it will recede for a time again, and take a lot of similar one-album or two-album groups with it as people move on to different stages of their life and other projects. It’s a life-cycle, basically. But even as there’s a constantly overwhelming forward motion, releases like this one underscore the importance of looking back and drawing the line from then to now. I’m pretty sure I’ve mixed metaphors irreparably throughout this post, but if you take away anything from it at all, understand that whatever your angle of approach to exploring heavy rock and roll, there’s always going to be more to find.

As always, I hope you enjoy.

I let myself sleep until 4:30 this morning, which felt like a luxury. Alarm went off an hour earlier, but in my head I saw myself yesterday afternoon, dead to the world on the couch during the baby’s second nap, and decided it was worth investing in the day now. I don’t know if it was the right call or not, but screw it. As The Patient Mrs. told me the other day, “You’ll get your shit done.” And so I will. The only question, I suppose, is the freneticism of pace at which that happens. I shouldn’t complain. I mean, I do anyway — constantly — but I shouldn’t.

The Pecan woke up at about 5:30. It takes him a bit to get going, but that’s when he really started to stir. I grabbed him a couple minutes before six, as usual, and that started the morning. I’m beat. The Patient Mrs. and I are pretty dug into the beginning of her Spring semester teaching, so she’s out most days for some measure of time or other, and there’s always grading besides. I’m just trying to get through the days. I’ve had some ferocious ups and downs the last couple weeks — more downs, if I’m honest — but whatever. I’m getting through the way I get through, which is by writing and trying to catch my quiet moments where and when I can.

One thing The Pecan is good for though is he gets me out of the house. The Patient Mrs. and I are sharing a car (her car, to be more precise), but even aside from dropping her off at work, the kid needs to get out of the house at least once per day, preferably twice. It was warm and sunny earlier this week so we spent the whole day more or less at different parks. There’s a skatepark down the way from where we live and I took him there just to run up and down the ramps and stuff. No one’s ever there — it’s right next to the police station, oddly enough — so we had it to ourselves and he had a good time. Then we went to the regular park and he faceplanted coming down a big-kid slide. He was fine, but displeased. Point is he’s happy getting out as much as he can. In Massachusetts winter, you have to take those days when you can get them. There’s usually one per month or so.

He’s down for a nap now — it’s a bit after breakfast — but I can hear him singing to himself upstairs. He’ll fall asleep eventually. Domestic bliss.

Agenda for the weekend includes getting the ball rolling for the Roadburn ‘zine and driving to CT to celebrate The Patient Mrs.’ upcoming birthday with her family. That, honestly, will probably be enough.

I’ve got notes for next week though. Here they are:

MON 02/11 OLD MEXICO REVIEW; THE OTHER SUN VID PREMIERE
TUE 02/12 SAVER PREMIERE/REVIEW; DUN RINGILL VID PREMIERE
WED 02/13 VAREGO ALBUM STREAM/REVIEW; HIGH BRIAN VID PREMIERE
THU 02/14 RED EYE PREMIERE
FRI 02/15 DEMON HEAD REVIEW

I’m also slated to go see C.O.C. next weekend in Boston and I’m already anxious about it. What if crowds, what if photos, what if parking, what if Boston. All that stuff. You know the deal.

Or more, I hope you don’t.

Thanks to everyone who’s bought a shirt or hoodie from Dropout Merch lately. I’m trying to save money for a new lens for the camera, so that is much appreciated.

No new ‘The Obelisk Show’ this weekend, but as you can see, plenty going besides. I’ll be around if you need anything though. You know where to find me.

Please have a great and safe weekend, and please, forum, radio, merch.

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One Response to “Friday Full-Length: 7Zuma7, Untitled EP”

  1. Mike says:

    Hope you can make the COC show JJ, was lucky enough to catch them in October and they were blisteringly good.

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