Experimental hardcore outfit Zero Trust shared their emotive new single “Dead Issue”, out now on Equal Vision Records. The band is a coalition of NJHC and NYHC talent, featuring vocalist BJ Allen (Full Scale Riot, Ghidrah, GMK) guitarists Zack Thorne (Bulldoze, Agents of Man, Skarhead) and Mike Milewski (Bulldoze, Homicidal), bassist and backing vocalist Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria) and drummer Evan Rossiter (Full Scale Riot, Organyc). The group pushes the boundaries of hardcore, metalcore and jagged alternative rock, creating music that is intensely melodic while remaining undeniably aggressive.
“Dead Issue” showcases the band doing what they do best – meshing complex lyricism and soaring vocals with lighting-in-a-bottle instrumentals rooted in hardcore and alternative rock. The angular riffs weave in and out of the melody with caustic results, supported by a heavy groove that builds on the nuances of the song and doesn’t lose a hint of aggression along the way. The lyric video blends animated words with live shots of the band to give viewers a preview of the bands high energy live show. You can stream the track and view the lyric video here.
On the theme of their latest track, vocalist BJ Allen had this to say
“‘Dead Issue’ is about not being controlled by divisive issues that really have nothing to do with you personally. You can’t stop diversity in any way and people should be able to do what they want to do as long as they’re not harming anyone else. If we let all of that stuff go we can focus on real issues that may benefit mankind and not just the fortunate few. To put it in a nutshell – it would be better to focus on climate change rather than where someone can go to the bathroom.”
Keeping with an ongoing theme across their last several singles, the official art was created by drummer Evan Rossiter’s first born, Ket. You can stream “Dead Issue” here.
About Zero Trust
Zero Trust might be a new name, but members of the New York-based outfit boast résumé credits spanning decades of the most creative, cutting-edge pockets of the area’s storied hardcore scene. With a lineup consisting of vocalist BJ Allen (Full Scale Riot, Ghidrah, GMK), guitarists Zack Thorne (Bulldoze, Agents of Man, Skarhead, etc.) and Mike Milewski (Bulldoze, Homicidal, etc.), Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria) on bass and backing vocals, and Evan Rossiter (Full Scale Riot, Organyc) behind the kit, the group formed as a creative outlet during the quarantined isolation of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing to experiment and innovate, the quintet unifies its broad palette of hardcore, metal, and alternative music experience into a progressive blend of dense, charging rhythms and melodic underpinnings; plus towering vocals and hook-laden songwriting that carries substantive lyrical themes reflecting on the socio-political turmoil that has erupted throughout the past year. At a time when all too many are content to simply rearrange the same old ingredients, Zero Trust opts for an aggressive yet emotional sound that simply can’t be pigeonholed.