{"id":64729,"date":"2018-06-13T17:30:34","date_gmt":"2018-06-13T16:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=64729"},"modified":"2018-06-12T21:30:43","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T20:30:43","slug":"review-zeal-ardor-stranger-fruit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-zeal-ardor-stranger-fruit\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Zeal & Ardor<\/b>\u2019s \u2019Devil Is Fine\u2019<\/i> was a prime example of an album\u2019s concept superseding its execution. The narrative of African-American slaves break away from their masters and turning to Satanism is one that could have produced some fascinating results. But in the clunky mix of black metal and Delta blues, not to mention its brevity, very little came from it.<\/p>\n

However, with new release\u00a0\u2019Stranger Fruit\u2019,<\/i>\u00a0the concept has been revisited in a far\u00a0more effective way. An extended format and more fluid execution, allows project mastermind Manuel Gagneux to collate both halves into something much more compelling. The atmosphere is palpable, melding a humid, heated brand of black metal with the eerie spiritualism of Delta blues on tracks like \u2019Don\u2019t You Dare\u2019<\/i> and \u2019Ship On Fire\u2019. <\/i>All\u00a0backed by crackling fire and hysterical shouts to fully flesh it out.<\/p>\n