Black Yellow White Album Review

Something special happens when likeminded musicians get together to make the music they love and this is abundantly clear with November Zulu’s debut album entitled ‘Black Yellow White’. With a deeply rich sound driving the songs along in a powerful and stirring way and Geordie Meade’s charismatic vocals tightly tied together with exquisite compositions, November Zulu display a thorough understanding of what rock n roll is all about.

With a few religious references in the lyrics (albeit in a generalized way) ‘Black Yellow White’ is a release with an edgy style similar to Shihad but also reminiscent of post-grunge rockers Creed, all of which is expertly recorded and mastered by award winning engineer Andrew Buckton at Studio 203 in Auckland. Guitar and vocals were recorded at Waikowhai Intermediate with mastering on the forth track Second to None (featuring Dane Rumble) undertaken by prestigious Sterling Sound in New York and Studio 301 located in Sydney mastering the eleventh track entitled Deceit. Although somewhat Americanised the CD retains an overall Kiwi flavour.

After the intro, the first song Call it Real is a great representation of the rest of the album; Some variation is given with the hard hitting third track and first single Run With the Enemy as well as the seventh track Better Of It, which explores a light-hearted Jazz influence. The slower twelfth track All in All and reggae sounding thirteenth track Reflection helps to diversify the album. Next is my favourite song on the CD entitled Bobby, mainly because of the great guitaring of twin brothers Donald and Ronald Saw, which is intensely full and layered. The last track Ten Hands is a somewhat darker effort although there is a comedic bonus track to end the album on a different note.

Featuring well arranged guitar riffs with Van Halen like solos and vocal lines that are brilliantly written and performed, the popular-rock orientated songs are infinitely commercially viable making me wonder why these guys haven’t been signed. Formed in 2006 from five school friends, November Zulu soon went onto win the Auckland Battle of the Bands and self-produce three music videos all while performing for enthusiastic audiences throughout New Zealand. Obviously there’s no lack of get up and go from this young band. Staying true to their musical roots while making songs that are accessible, November Zulu’s debut release is something special indeed.