I was sent the first ZERO BARS demo to review at the end of 2023 by MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL and I remember liking it ok, but really liking that amidst their fast punk songs the band slipped us a curve ball of a catchy WIRE-esque post-punk number. Lo and behold they do it again on this release! ZERO BARS from Toronto are back with their second cassette, Life and Hell, taking the glimpses of good we saw on Demo 2023 and pumping every aspect up. The fast hardcore-punk songs are more driving and angrier. The post-punk number, “House Arrest” is catchier and feels more well rounded. On the first tape I liked the slower song more than the fast ones by a long-shot. On Life and Hell, ZERO BARS has really figured out the formula, making picking a favorite track, or even a preferred of the two styles an incredibly difficult task. Oh, and they end things with a ripping CRUCIFUCKS cover. That’s it, this rips, flip the tape and let’s take it again from the top!

Label: self-released

Band: ZERO BARS