Zen Disdain – Inanition

Zen Disdain
Inanition
Out: December 12^th, 2024
Playing time: 47:44

Esperoza, which existed for seven years, from 2010 to 2017, was an Extreme Metal band from Moldova. With a touch of symphonic music. After that, things went quiet for the musicians, especially singer Zoya Belous. But if you have music in your blood, you can’t live without it. Now living in the Netherlands, she founded the band Zen Disdain in 2022 together with former Esperoza guitarist Dmitrii Prihodko. The sound has changed compared to the previous band. ‘Blackened Doom/Death Metal’ is now the label. Less Symphonic, but more Death or Doom Metal. After the 2023 debut EP ‘Premonition’, the band’s first album ‘Inanition’ is now being released.

Right from the opening song ‘Everpresent’, you can hear that it sounds much heavier. Hard guitar riffs and angry growls. And yes, these come from front woman Zoya Belous. But she also sings in high soprano. And she masters these changes easily. And it gets even heavier, i.e. faster. Both the riffs and the growls increase in tempo and the drums drive the other musicians even faster. Deep inhales and exhales can be heard at the beginning of ‘The Shore’. Doom-like guitars accompany this. But soon the merciless blasting starts again. Once again, you can enjoy Zoya’s operatic soprano. The high-speed riffs contrast with the calm vocals. And the drums that push forward. Later, the singer growls her heart out again. On ‘The Woods’, Zoya Belous impressively proves that she also masters Dramatic Rock vocals alongside operatic soprano and abysmally evil growls. The title track ‘Inanition’ is much calmer with Doom Metal riffs. Although we can also hear double bass attacks in places. The calm vocals with a lower voice also fit in with this. Later on, the high soprano can be heard again. While the growls are dispensed with here. ‘Spiritual Desert’ starts with guitar melodies. But the contemplation soon comes to an end. Once again, the band goes into high-speed mode, mainly due to the drums and fast riffs. The vocals alternate between rock, soprano and growls and musically between Speed Death and sustained Doom. The sound doesn’t change much on ‘Symbols’ either. The final song ‘What Remains Of Us’ is pure Doom Metal again. Heavy riffs and beautiful melodies take centre stage. For the second time, the singer completely dispenses with her growls.

‘Inanition’ is really hard stuff. A lot of Speed Death alternating with Doom Metal. But the most impressive thing is Zoya Belous’ vocals. It’s hard to believe how evil her growls sound. And these are in extreme contrast to her sometimes very high soprano. I have already experienced her like this at a show with Esperoza.

Zen Disdain – The Woods (Official Visualizer): https://youtu.be/vDhY7sddV1Q?si=qG28aCmMgGgMsaTK

Lineup:

Ronny Meinders – Drums
Dmitrii Prihodko – Guitars
Zoya Belous – Vocals

Track list:

• Everpresent
• The Shore
• The Woods
• Inanition
• Spiritual Desert
• Symbols
• What Remains Of Us