Album review: THE ZILLA PROJECT – This One’s For The President

[Release date 25.09.15] www.zillaproject.com

The Zilla Project hail from Cyprus, not maybe a country you’d associate with blues based music. This four piece band are set to change that perception and if you like your blues steeped in the classic sound and with some nifty blues shuffles in the mix, you will love this album.

There is a little honky tonk on ‘Sweet Louisa’, Nicolas ‘Honeyman’ Melis adds deft touches the piano on this one and for a smoky, late night blues work out ‘Zilla Song’ fits the bill perfectly.

The guitar playing of Emmanual ‘Big Mo’ Vourakis is never flashy or overstays its welcome and he has a vocal nicely suited to the blues. Heck this band even get some funk in on ‘Shout Song’, check out that funky end bass from Omiros ‘The Bagman’ Andreou. The acoustic ‘Grace’ with guest vocalist Mikaela Tsangari recalls early Fleetwood Mac with its dreamy atmosphere at the start, until a big rock ending kicks in. The band have a lot of promise based on their original material.

Couple of covers on here, as the band earned their stripes starting off playing covers. There is Son House’s ‘Death Letter’ and a must hear version of Janis Joplin’s ‘Mercedes Benz’. Loving the use of gospel on the intro and choruses, and the slide playing makes this a sterling version.

The Zilla Project will appeal not only to blues fans, but a wider audience given their wide range of musical influences and playing. A delight from start to finish. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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