(Rock) Fear Zero - In lights, 2007, MP3 (tracks), VBR 210-240 kbps

Fear Zero Biography
Ed S. - lead vox, guitar
Francis A. - drums, vox
T.J. O.- bass
Jeremy H. - guitar
Fear Zero def.: To be afraid or frightened of nothing. This is the motto that this North Vancouver 4 piece has been living by for the past 4 years it has been releasing its brand of melodic hard rock to worldwide audiences. Plunging yourself into thousands of dollars of debt and starting your own indie label at a time when the music biz is capitulating to illegal downloading, it would certainly qualify them for the above definition, but there is much more to the story of the band that some in the Canadian music biz have called “the best unsigned band in Canada.”
With the release of their 3rd CD “In Lights,” Fear Zero has realized a musical vision only hinted at on their two previous releases (which sold over 3000 copies combined and yielded a top 40 and two top 50 singles). Crushing drums sit under big ass guitars and fat bass, all topped off by the sometimes edgy, sometimes tenderly sung vocals of Ed Sadler, the singer/songwriter/guitarist and all around guru of Fear Zero. There are the intense moments on songs such as “You Make Me” and “Cry On A Sunday” that bring a certain tone to the CD but then there are the quirky and unique songs such as “Loner Anthem” and “Get Over This” that really round out the 14 song effort in a way that only an independent band could get away with. Sadler says “I really wanted to take a couple of left turns and surprise the listener by drawing upon more than just my hard rock influences as a songwriter and throw in a little reggae, and even some country and singer songwriter type stuff...and then have the heavy stuff to keep fans of our previous CDs happy too. I think it works in a very interesting way for a rock band.” All of the songs are still wrapped up in the poppy hooks that the band seems to deliver on every CD and this gives the music a thread that runs throughout the CD, whether hopping genres on the later tracks, or the slamming meters of many of the songs on the CD.
With a budget rarely afforded an independent group, Sadler set out to make the album he always dreamed of making with the help of a couple of guys known only as the Guiney Bros. “’Without whom this CD would not have been possible’ is an understatement,” Sadler says of the liner notes in the new CD. “These guys really stepped up to the plate financially and enabled us to work with guys like Mike Fraser (ACDC, Aerosmith, Hinder) and Darren Grahn (Metallica, Crossfade, Third Eye Blind) and let me tell you, when you get to record in a famous and great sounding room such as Hippowest (formerly Mushroom), it just inspires you to play and write in the best way possible.”
Joining Sadler on the recording is full time Fear Zero member Francis Amanse who handles drums, supporting vocals, and percussion duties on the CD. Rounding out the band is bassist T.J. O’ Malley, a member of the band at its inception in late 2002 and guitarist Jeremy Harrison, a Fear Zero alumni. The band is touring Canada in support of the first single “Breathe Again” which was one of the most added songs at Canadian rock radio in January 2007 and now sits respectably on the charts with 17 stations putting the track in rotation, a rare feat for an independent band. Soon the band will shoot the video for the single with up and coming Italian director Alessandro Pacciani, allowing them to pursue airplay on Canada’s major music channels.
With a freshly inked distribution deal in Canada through Fontana/Universal, and a touring schedule that will see the band play over 120 shows in the next year with tours reaching into the US, and a shiny new video, Fear Zero is ready to take its 2007 to unclaimed heights.