Pittsburgh duo Zom, founded by members of Brimstone Coven and Monolith Wielder, have announced the title of their debut full-length as Nebulos. Slated for release presumably late in 2017 or early in 2018, the album will be released by Argonauta Records as part of that Italian label’s ever-expanding roster — which also includes the aforementioned Monolith Wielder, in which drummer Ben Zerbe plays as well — and will reportedly feature tracks from Zom‘s 2013 self-titled EP (review here), as well as brand new material.

Should be interesting to hear how the two mix together when the time comes, but details on Nebulos beyond the title and basic construction are sparse as yet, so I’m guessing it could be a while. Still, here’s the announcement from Argonauta, because, you know, it’s been a couple days since they signed a band, so they were due:

ZOM signed to ARGONAUTA Records; new single and video-clip running now

ARGONAUTA Records is excited to announce to have inked a deal with Pittsburgh based Heavy Rock trio ZOM.

ZOM is a monstrous force of heavy rock n’ roll full of stinky, stoner grooves and grab-you-by-the-throat hooks. ZOM goes straight to the gut and doesn’t hold back on its relentless attack on the senses.

“We are thrilled to join such an impressive roster at Argonauta Records! Argonauta gives us the opportunity to have ZOM reach the ears of people around the world. We put our heart and soul into this album and we’re emboldened by the confidence that Argonauta has in our unique style. We couldn’t be more proud of this record and it’s an honor to be on a strong label with so many great bands.” — Gero von Dehn

In 2014, experienced and multifaceted music vets Gero von Dehn (MONOLITH WIELDER) and Andrew D’Cagna (BRIMSTONE COVEN) joined forces for ZOM’s debut self titled EP limited to a
release of under 100 copies.

Now in 2017, ZOM is back with newly recorded material as well as some additions. This new material will be released along with fully remastered versions of the original tracks from the self titled EP.

“The release of our full length NEBULOS via Argonauta Records is an exciting opportunity indeed. We’ve always felt these songs were special and strong, they just need to reach the right ears of the right audience at the right time. Thankfully that day has come to light!” — Andrew D’Cagna

With ZOM finally getting around to going out on the road some new members have been enlisted. Von Dehn is still on vocals and guitar, while D’Cagna remains on bass. Ben Zerbe (Monolith Wielder) is on drums for the new tracks and the rest of the touring band is being assembled.

“So glad to be releasing this album with Argonauta. It’s an honor to be asked by Gero and Andrew to join this powerful monster that they started a couple years ago. We’re excited for the release and the new markets that Argonauta will help us reach.” — Ben Zerbe

www.facebook.com/ZOM-189166947896954/
https://zom-rock.bandcamp.com/music
http://www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/

ZOM, “Solitary” official video

If you’re looking to grab attention, having bright blue, red, orange and yellow lightning bolt artwork of a Shiva-esque alien destructive force made out of electricity might not be a bad way to go. Such is the fare in which DIY Pittsburgh duo Zom traffic, and while one might expect based on the striking visual that their music is a sort of hyper-caffeinated tech-prog full of fretboard sprints and light on groove, nothing could be further from the case. Zom‘s debut — a self-titled, self-recorded, self-released, six-song EP — rests easy on a bed of thick riffs and post-Pepper-era-C.O.C. burl American style, not quite veering into “hey whoa mama yeah” chestbeating, but hardly lacking dudeliness either.

Stoner metal in the sense of having more crunch than fuzz tonally but still using it to riff out, Zom (also stylized in all-caps) is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Gero von Dehn and bassist/drummer Andrew D’Cagna, who also recorded Zom at Sacred Sound (both are listed as producers).  Solos on three of the six songs come courtesy of guest-guitarist Justin Wood (Black Plastic Caskets), and Creighton Hill supplied the aforementioned cover art, but otherwise, Zom is a two-person outfit. Rather than bask in the inherent minimalism a guitar/drum duo brings about, Zom sound like at least a trio, if not a four-piece, in terms of their layering and the fullness. D’Cagna‘s bass obviously makes a huge difference in this regard, and while yeah, there’s two of them, from the start of “Nebulos/Alien,” Zom come across as a complete band.

I don’t know if von Dehn and D’Cagna are looking for anyone else to join or if they’ll make a go as a twosome — they’d have a hard time sounding this full live, at least without sampling or running the guitar through multiple rigs — but the songs on the EP are catchy and straightforward. More or less unipolar — set phasers to “rock” — one hears shades of a less fuzz-soaked Wo Fat and von Dehn‘s belted-out vocals follow his riffing more than ably on “Burning” and veer into echoing Southernisms on the 6:56 “Solitary,” so it’s not as if Zom only have grabbed attention only to bore, though at this point they’re clearly more confident in the weighted thrust that emerges even in “Solitary,” even if later. Still, both D’Cagna and von Dehn have done time in a host of Pittsburgh metal acts, and that experience shows through in an overarching sense of professionalism that runs counter to what one might expect from a “new” band.

The “Holy in the Sky” revision of “The Greedy Few” owes almost as much to stoner-era Cathedral as to Sabbath, but even there — I’d argue it’s the EP’s most obviously derivative moment and that it’s designed to be — Zom seem to be shooting to make something familiar their own, and ending cut “There’s Only Me” hints at a burgeoning melodic adventurousness in von Dehn‘s vocals in what would’ve been a strong hook even without, so they show some promise for continuing to develop a more individual personality. There’s part of me that thinks adding more members would aid in this, but there are an awful lot of three- and four-piece acts out there. A lot of duos too, but fewer shooting for a full-band aesthetic. However they choose to proceed, Zom‘s debut fulfills its electrified threat. If they wanted attention, well, okay. Now what?

Zom, Zom (2013)

Zom on Thee Facebooks

Zom on Bandcamp