Better late than never!
"We Are
Zan Clan, Who The F**k Are You" was released in 2005 - first on the Swedish label GMR, later on Perris Records and finally the French label Bad Reputation, who are to blame for finally providing
RevelationZ Magazine with a promotion copy of this album.
Zan Clan is named after its lead singer and former Shotgun Messiah vocalist Zinny J. Zan. The clan consists of skilled and experienced musicians.
Chris Laney certainly set his mark on the record being Zinny's co-writer, guitarist and he is also responsible for the beefed up production. Former
Talisman/Great King Rat guitarist Pontus Norgren is Laney's sidekick on the six string, so needles to emphasize that the guitar work is exceptional. The rhythm section is taken from the band Lion's Share, so it's crème de la crème of Swedish rock musicians playing in
Zan Clan.
Characteristic for all songs is a massive wall of guitars and a pompous production. These songs are guitar driven songs and Laney/Norgren really plays around with great riffs. The guitars add many extra layers and dimensions to the songs - just listen to the chorus for
High Speed Junkie.
Zinny J. Zan voice spans wide and his singing style is much diversified.
So Damn Good starts like a modern song but you cannot help surrendering when the thick axes kicks in for the melodic chorus.
So Damn Good is just So Damn Good :)
Zinny doubles the vocals on M
ess Ya Up, which gives the song a more powerful effect. The verse has a single vocal line followed by a long riff/chord progression
Heart Died Young opens with a thunderous bass from Pontus Egberg. The verse is fantastic and once again driven by monster guitars from Laney and Norgren. Zinny sounds fantastic and the huge backing vocals and chorus makes this a unique "fist in the air" song.
The contrast of Zinny's voice and the huge backing vocals is used cleverly on several songs and the change of lead duties between Zinny and the backing vocals provides the album with a unique flavor. This is best exemplified on
Déjà vu, where the chorus consists of backing vocals only. The middle play has Zinny's attitude filled vocals screaming the title of the album "We are
Zan Clan, Who the F**k are you??!"
Jinxed is among album highlights - its is just so damn well written and performed Hard Rock that even an old dog like yours truly must surrender. Johan Koleberg bangs the cowbell with such passion and strength that every cow nearby
Zan Clan's studio must have gathered around the building for a mighty "Moo".
A cover version of
Cheap Trick's
Surrender ends the album and it puts things in perspective since a brilliant
Cheap Trick song stands as the weakest link on the album.
It takes guts to release an album with this cocky title! Hopefully it will provoke record buyers to check this
Zan Clan album out.
Zan Clan released an album in 1994, but it doesn't bear comparison to this masterpiece. This album has everything "Citizens of Wasteland" lacked. "We are
Zan Clan, who the F**k are you??!" is punchy, it has big chunky guitar and Zinny J. Zan sounding better than ever. The competent musicians in
Zan Clan give Zinny J. Zan the right creative opposition.
Unfortunately Pontus Norgren and Pontus Egberg have left
Zan Clan to team up with original
Talisman drummer Jake Samuels to pursue a career in their new band "Poodles".
Zan Clan will continue and this band is too good to break up. What an album! It has everything and rocks from start to finish. WOW!!
Written by
Michael Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Show all reviews by MichaelRatingsMichael: 8/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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