About Durry:
The first sound you hear on Durry’s rambunctious and poignant debut album, Suburban Legend, is an old-school Internet dial-up tone. To songwriter Austin Durry, the sound is instantly familiar but his bandmate and sister, Taryn, hadn’t heard it before. The Burnsville, Minnesota-based duo might identify with different age groups — with seven years between them, Austin is a millennial and Taryn is Gen Z — but by joining forces in Durry, they show just how much the neighboring generations have in common.
Between their serendipitous origin story and a crop of dynamic, hook-heavy alt-pop tracks, Durry are doing something few bands can achieve — and they’re doing it entirely on their own terms. As a band, Taryn and Austin’s journey happened both unexpectedly and fortuitously. At the start of the COVID pandemic, Austin and his wife moved back into his parents’ house, where Taryn was also living at the time. In addition to moving back in with his family, COVID forced Austin to cancel an extensive tour with his previous band, Coyote Kid. Faced with nothing but time, he got back to songwriting, regularly asking Taryn for input — or as the two playfully put it, “Gen Z quality control.”
“I’d say, here’s an early concept, what do you think? Then she’ll steer the ship, and then I’ll evolve it from there,” Austin explains. “Taryn is the sounding board and Gen Z vision of the band, where I’m kinda cranking stuff out.”
As they got going, forming what would turn into Durry, the siblings also outlined DIY ideas for branding and promotion, creating all of their own content and imbuing their visuals with nostalgic golden yellow, large fonts, and tactile images that would later make their way into eye-catching merch.
The immediate result of their musical partnership was the pop-punk/alternative anthem “Who’s Laughing Now,” which leads with wry, tongue-in-cheek lyrics about the futility of young adulthood in 2023: “My mama always said I would regret it if I ever got a tattoo,” Austin chants, adding: “She said I’d never get a job like I ever wanted one with that attitude/ My dad said I had to learn to drive a stick shift, but every van I ever had was an automatic/ My friends said that someday I would make it big, but I’m still living in the basement.”
After posting an unfinished version of “Who’s Laughing Now” on TikTok, it swiftly took off, galvanizing thousands of viewers who shared their coming-of-age frustrations. Clearly, the song’s sentiments — which land somewhere between a shrug and a clenched fist — resonated with millions of listeners, and today the song has garnered more than four million Spotify streams. Meanwhile, Durry have recorded a fully fleshed-out version of “Who’s Laughing Now,” which is set to appear on their riveting, perfectly sardonic debut LP, Suburban Legend.
Invoking alternative, pop, and pop-punk influences such as Weezer, Sum 41, the White Stripes, and the Killers, Suburban Legend is produced by Austin, engineered by the singer’s longtime collaborator Jack Vondrachek, and contains 12 songs packed with energy, gumption, and razor-sharp lyricism that explores themes around suburbia, capitalism, mundanity, ambition, perseverance, passion, mental health — and Taco Bell.
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.
After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length album, GREIF.
“Zeal & Ardor is very much a thing in transit,” Manuel observes. “It’s definitely a restless organism that I have the privilege of raising.”
He’s done a hell of a job raising it so far…
In 2017, Zeal & Ardor embedded itself deep inside of popular culture with the seminal full-length debut, Devil Is Fine. In between touring worldwide, the band progressed across Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022]. The latter incited unanimous tastemaker praise. Beyond applause from NPR, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, and many others, Metal Hammer highlighted its “near perfection” in a “4.5-out-of-5 star” review, while The Line of Best of Fit hailed, “Zeal & Ardor continue to assert their versatility.” The band graced the cover of KERRANG!, while the record landed high in the charts in multiple countries globally.
However, Manuel decided to switch up the process for GREIF. Rather than creatively fly solo, he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians—Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums]—spread their wings alongside him.
“The guys basically gave this project seven years of their lives on tour, so it felt odd to be the only one on the albums,” he says. “The sound is more of an analog to what we do on stage. You get the same idiots, just on vinyl,” he laughs.
“We’ve really evolved into a tight-knit unit,” adds Marc. “Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we’re like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel’s songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio.”
Decamping to Marc’s studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.
“I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors,” he goes on. “There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I’m widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven’t tried.”
Tiziano concurs, “This album feels like a warm homecoming into a place of uncertainty. What could be
described as the start of another era artistically is probably more of a coming to life of
a bigger beast in the form of a more communicative and better organized collective.”
Ethereal glockenspiel sets the tone for the lead single “Fend You Off.” This dreamy melody belies a seething intensity, which boils over on a crescendo uplifted by a trio of voices in arresting harmony. As the riff kicks into high gear, Manuel repeats, “There’s a thorn in my side.”
“Whereas prior albums were more community calls-to-action, this is a personal quest,” he reveals. “‘Fend You Off’ is about how you can be defensive to a person who’s being toxic to you. You’re swallowing your tongue up until the moment you can’t do it anymore.”
On “Kilonova,” the bass and guitars mimic the anxious thump of a heartbeat, locking into a head-nodding rhythm awash in delay. Chants pierce the fray, bleeding into a breathy refrain.
“A ‘Kilonova’ is when two supernovas collide,” he states. “It’s the type of grandeur I’m after.”
His menacing delivery barely cracks a whisper on the vicious “Clawing Out.” It bludgeons and bruises with an infectious insidiousness conjured on the chorus as everyone shouts in unison.
“It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written,” he affirms. “It has a hardcore kick. Lyrically, ‘Clawing Out’ is about finding your way out of a rut. You’re in a shitty situation, and you’re fighting back.”
“Disease” hinges on a smoky drumbeat as a blues guitar lead cuts through a thick bass groan, climaxing with a mantra. “It’s a little more rock ‘n’ roll,” he comments. “I’m taking risks, because I don’t want to make the same song over and over.”
Then, there’s “Hide In Shade.” It channels the collective’s signature black metal stomp with a vital volley of extreme emotions. “I still wanted to have a classic Zeal & Ardor moment,” he proclaims. “It’s a gateway song.”
The ride concludes on the plaintive and poetic “to my ilk.” Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel’s voice echoes through a choir. “It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined,” he remarks.
The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Manuel’s hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of the Basel’s working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal’s amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.
“The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird,” he notes. “During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are.”
Leaning into a signature hybrid of its own, Zeal & Ardor elevates once again.
“We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor,” Tiziano leaves off. “There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel’s songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.”
“Zeal & Ardor is my passion, my self-realization, and my friends,” Manuel concludes. “It’s basically what allows me to continue to be this weirdo for a job! It’s basically everything to me.”
