ZENIT – The Chandrasekhar Limit (2013)
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ZENIT is a progressive band from Switzerland that has been together since 1998, published two albums (the last one in 2006) being “The Chandrasekhar Limit” their newest, third opus.
I never heard the group before, and discovered here a delightful work of melodic progressive rock marked by intriguing arrangements and skillful playing with references from the classic British Prog school and some current Neo Prog trends.
But Zenit is not as blatant about their influences as many bands operating in this arena, with the elaborated multi-part six tracks on this album being mostly more interested in setting scenes, atmospheres, melodies and telling stories with their own distinctive touch.
Before anything else, it’s good to understand why such a weird name for their album. “The Chandrasekhar Limit” is a Mayan mathematical term and defines if a white dwarf star remains a star or becomes a black hole. According to the band they felt the same way, not knowing if they were above or below The Chandrasekhar Limit (as a metaphor for their music).
As expected the five musicians who make up the band are supremely talented, with the focused, yet meandering style taken on by Zenit allowing them all the space to really stretch out and work their instruments hard. To their credit, they do so, but without the need to be uber-technical or sacrifice the song for the solo.
“The Chandrasekhar Limit” is bold and mostly goes for the old glory days of Prog without falling in the usual clichés that some bands use. The album is based on long compositions (yet divided in parts) but there’s no sign of getting bored with it.
Opener “Awaken” has all that the first track on any Prog release should include, and that is soaring guitar and keyboard riffs which continues to weave in and out over the length of the track. There is an amazing passage from around 4 minutes where over the dynamic drumming and bass work, the guitar lays a tremendous solo over the top, with the keyboards supporting in the background. Then it breaks into a plaintive piano passage which is joined by lovable acoustic guitars. Lorenzo Sonognini’s voice is hard to get used to in the beginning, but as soon as the first verses go along, his voice suits the music very well.
After the short “Cub Lady” which serves as interlude, “PiGreco” is an instant track; a keyboard driven up-tempo proggy song with powerful vocals and superb drum/bass playing with a layered sound that envelopes the listener and takes him on the travel the song so ably describe.
“Matrimandir” has Sanskrit and English lyrics and the sound follows the lyrics with a hypnotic riff. A sitar and a very ethnic sounding background show the versatility of the band prior to the electric guitar picking up and carrying the sitar riff onwards. A curiosity is the jazzy-fusion part in the middle, and then a ‘progger’ part follows, three musical fields that, supposedly, have nothing to do with each other but in the hands of Zenit it really works, defining their style.
“The Daydream Suite” is the epic of the album and as title says, it’s a suite divided in several parts. It’s a fine musical journey that you can take with your eyes closed discovering its textures, tempo changes, arrangements and climates.
“The Chandrasekhar Limit” is a proof that Prog can still be refreshing with good musicians on the instruments. I’m not talking about technically good musicians, but intelligent musicians that work for the song and Zenit definitely has it.
Andy Thommen used to play on Clepsydra back in the ninties and it’s good to hear such a good bass player that cares for the deep-end sound. Much of the bass players nowadays plays Prog with 5-string bass and forget the mid-high frequencies. Ivo Bernasconi is subtle with the keyboards, but precise and tasteful, either on classic organs or exquisite piano passages.
Gabriele Schira has a good drum sound and Luigi Biamino at a first glance doesn’t appear at all with the guitars but that’s where the trick lies; his riffs builds up the atmosphere and structures the band needs to fly, but when his time for soloing arrives the man shows a complete arsenal of resources and abilities.
“The Chandrasekhar Limit” is a true Prog album, in its format and feeling, revisiting and re-envisioning classic melodic prog rock with a playful delivery.
1. Awaken
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
2. Cub Lady
3. PiGreco
4. Matrimandir
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
5. Pulsar
6. The Daydream Suite
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Lorenzo Sonognini – vocals, acoustic guitars
Luigi Biamino – guitars, backing vocals
Ivo Bernasconi – keyboards
Andy Thommen – bass, backing vocals
Gabriele Schira – drums, percussion
Guests:
Stefano Zaccagni – saxophone
Asia Thommen, Diana Bernasconi, Maria Scandella, Ilaria Widmer – backing vocals
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