The rock ’n roll band of three Stellenberg High School matric pupils launched their new album at Hillcrest Quarry, in Durbanville, on Friday April 7, marking a new chapter in their young music career.
Inspired by anything from cool jazz to death metal, Zengeance have created their own blend of blues, funk, psychedelic, indie, pop, garage and punk rock; each of these styles beautifully captured in each song on their full-length album.
The band was created in 2014 when vocalist/guitarist Erick Zulch convinced his friends, Wian Brand, bass, and Lafras Uys, drums, to form a band. The fact that neither of them owned instruments did not seem like an obstacle. The plan was to use the band as a means to appear cool at school and get girlfriends.
Since then, the band of rock brothers realised they have something a lot more meaningful to achieve together through their music and even though the plan to get girlfriends didn’t really work out (except for Erick), they are now out on a mission to show the world that the sound and soul of pure rock and rhythms can come from anywhere.
Erick described the album launch as an “amazing” experience.
“We had so much fun on stage with Albert Frost, Nick Forbes, and our close friends Carlo de Villiers (keyboard) and Carien Pretorius (backing vocals). We had the amazing first experience of hearing the crowd sing the lyrics of the songs with us,” he said.
Frost said: “These guys love playing music together, and it comes through on this album: three 17 year olds rocking it hard with a great energy and focus. Proof that rock and roll is truly still alive.”
The have played numerous gigs at locations such as Aandklas in Stellenbosch, The Old Harbour Theatre in Kleinmond, Jamrock Theatre in Brackenfell and the 2016 Malkopfees in Lambert’s Bay.
“All three of us bring our own sound and creativity that develops into a foundation on which weird and wonderful things can take place,” said Erick.
The album is available to stream and download from iTunes https://itun.es/za/eBU6ib. Visit www.zengeance.co.za for more information on the band, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.