After seven years of absence, it's understandable for a band to come back with the same formula as their best known work. Eagles Of Death Metal try to do just that with a selection of Garage Rock perfect for the heavily nostalgic fans who want more from the power duo of Jesse Hughes and Josh Hommes. Yes, this is another Eagles Of Death Metal album and whilst there are a couple of tracks that deviate from the typical sound of this group, it's more or less what you'd expect if you've listened to an entire album before Zipper Down. It's just a shame that those albums sound a lot better than anything on here.
My opinion on album opener "Complexity" hasn't changed in the slightest, it's still the band at their most average and sounds like the kind of song you'd hear in the background of a scene at a college bar in an American drama. However, I hesitate to call it a bad track as it sets up the rest of the album perfectly. If you love the track, you're in for a treat with the remaining ones but if you felt completely underwhelmed, get ready to feel this way for another half an hour.
If this album was played to the person who claimed they sounded like the "Eagles of Death Metal" before they stuck with that name, they'd probably be known as the "Strokes Of Classic Rock" as that's a far better description of the band's music that works on several different levels. It's an Indie Alt/70's Rock blend that occasionally works but doesn't quite hit home for me on Zipper Down. You've got faster songs that sound like lesser known Slade tracks on speed ("Got A Woman") and slower tunes akin to the softer melodies of bands like Wings ("I Love You All The Time"), along with a cover of a Duran Duran song that isn't catchy or upbeat ("Save A Prayer"), although it's worth mentioning that the vocals are spot on here even if the music is unimpressive.
The album could've done with a few more tracks like "Skin-Tight Boogie". It starts off with maximum fuzz on the bass and gets progressively weirder as more instruments and tones are introduced but it all works, even if it doesn't sound like the kind of song the band are known for writing. I've said before that I'm happy for bands to rely on the same sound for consecutive albums if the sound is good but when it starts to get a bit stale, it's time to mix it up a little.
Zipper Down will please fans of modern Alternative Rock that doesn't get carried away with itself. Most of these songs are pretty simple tunes with extra vocal and synth effects although the album seems less focused on heavy crunching riffs than Peace Love Death Metal, so that could be problematic for some of you. Mind you, it probably won't for those who enjoyed the mediocre Rolling Stonesesque sound of Heart On filler tracks. It's just a shame these guys couldn't write another belter like "Wannabe In L.A" or "Speaking In Tongues" along with all the average songs they rewrote for this album.
Anyway, tough call with this album. I always find myself divided by personal and unbiased opinions when it comes to scoring albums. Sometimes, I get really lucky and both opinions intertwine but I don't feel like this will be the case here. Music reviewing websites will likely praise the sound and style of this album whereas I feel like it doesn't deserve any higher than 4/10 for a collection of forgettable songs with the band's same formula that have been played really well. If you have an opinion on this album feel free to share it in the comments along with whether you believe I'm right to call it out on being unremarkable or wrong for not appreciating something that is clearly "art".
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