ZERO HOUR guitarist Jasun Tipton has shared an update on the response to “Codes Of Violence” as Decibel Magazine hosts an exclusive early stream of the band’s new EP, No Man’s Land. The California progressive metal group will release the EP on CD and digitally on October 16 through its own CynNormal Lab Recordings.
In the announcement supplied by Earsplit PR, Tipton connects the song’s reception with interest in bringing the band back to the stage: “The response thus far has been killer from our listeners. We’re very excited for everyone to hear the EP start to finish. Since releasing the song ‘Codes Of Violence,’ we’ve received numerous requests and quite a bit of interest in the band performing live at some incredible events. It could be a busy 2027 for ZERO HOUR!” His statement describes possible activity; the announcement supplies no confirmed live dates.
No Man’s Land contains two new songs, “Codes Of Violence” and the title track, alongside instrumental versions of both. The four-track format presents each composition with and without vocals. Original members Tipton and vocalist Erik Rosvold appear with bassist Andreas Blomqvist, while Jeremy Villucci contributes keyboards and Roel van Helden provides session drums.
The band recorded the EP, with Kai Stahlenberg recording the drums at Kohlekeller Studio. Matt LaPlant mixed and mastered the release at Madtown Mix Studio. Wayne Joyner created the artwork; the announcement also identifies his work with Dream Theater, Ayreon and Devin Townsend.
Jasun and his brother Troy Tipton formed ZERO HOUR in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1990s. Their stated musical influences included the Ronnie James Dio era of Rainbow, The Pat Metheny Group and Dream Theater, with an emphasis on heavy, melodic, dark and intricate music.
The announcement traces six studio releases from 1998 through 2008: the self-released debut ZERO HOUR (1998) and The Towers Of Avarice (2001), followed by Metamorphosis (2003), A Fragile Mind (2005), Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond (2006) and Dark Deceiver (2008). It identifies the latter four with Sensory Records, part of The Laser’s Edge Group.
ZERO HOUR dissolved after Dark Deceiver, following an arm injury that prevented Troy Tipton from playing bass. Jasun Tipton and Rosvold later reunited the group and recruited van Helden. Tipton and van Helden had become friends when ZERO HOUR and van Helden’s then-band Sun Caged played a show supporting Liquid Tension Experiment. They remained in contact and later discussed making music together after reconnecting overseas.
Van Helden subsequently helped bring Blomqvist into the lineup. The reunited band released Agenda 21 through Frontiers Records in 2022. No Man’s Land follows that return, with its complete early stream available through Decibel and CD and digital preorders offered ahead of October 16.
