Powerful.
If there is one epithet to ascribe to burgeoning new Pittsburgh metal band Reign of Z, it is this word. And even it may be an understatement, as the power comes not just from the epic nature of the metal musicality, but also from the incendiary emotiveness of vocalist/songwriter Zozia West and the dark honesty that infuses the message behind the music.
Reign of Z has moments of face-melting mayhem like any good metal band, buttressed by memorable melodic segments and an enthrallingly epic tone to many of their compositions. But it is the words that are so convincingly, authentically and indelibly proffered by West, and done so through a cacophonous vocal range and with such eviceratingly bold and honest language, that helps set the band apart and which is engaging an ever-increasing fan base.
Comprised of West, who began the project and brought together some of the Steel City’s finest hard rock and metal musicians to form what is seen by local audiences as a kind of best-of-the-best supergroup, Reign of Z also features bassist Stephen Berg, drummer Nick Kramer and the twin guitar attack of Steven Lords and Zach Cunningham.
The quintet recently released the song and video Dysmorphia from their forthcoming debut EP Mirrors and Memoirs, which will be released independently on digital platforms and physical formats in January. Although not billed as a concept album as there is no over-arching storyline bridging the five songs on the EP, there is a common thematic element to the songs, particularly in the lyrics, as summed up by the title.
“It’s kind of like my autobiography from childhood up to the present time. And one of the things that I hope to accomplish with this record, as much as anything, is that people get some comfort out of the fact that I am being completely open and honest. And also, we’re exploring in some of our content, some thoughts and ideas that may not be well received in daily life. I want our music, and especially our shows, to be able to create an environment for people to feel those darker things – not to actually act out on them, but to feel them and go on that journey and to know that you’re a human being and that it’s okay,” said West, an impressively articulate and literate lyricist who has already carved out a diverse career as a vocalist, including extensive time and training in the musical theatre and operatic worlds.
“And I would describe our music as a fusion between hard rock and metal, with elements of electronic music. We are definitely a combination between very gritty guitar, operative vocals with heavy growls and even a little bit of R&B and Soul. So, it’s got an interesting mix of genres melded into one eclectic concept.”
Berg said he and the other band members all knew one another, having spent time playing in the same bands or befriending other bands that they were playing with on the Pittsburgh scene.
“Zozia approached us to do a project, and as musicians you always want to grow and play with other musicians, which helps you get better musically. And things evolved quickly, and the ball started rolling and it’s just kept on rolling to where we are today,” he said, adding that he too brings a fairly broad range of interests into Reign of Z.
“I grew up on my parents’ extensive record collection There was a lot of stuff from the 1970s and 1980s like Black Sabbath and Eric Clapton. Heck, my mom took me to a Huey Lewis concert when I was three years old. And as I grew and began to play and write music myself I listened to a lot of Jeff Buckley and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, who were a great influence on me, and one of the reasons I play bass. But I also loved metal bands like Iron Maiden too. Music is one thing I can’t ever get away from, man. Music is a drug.
“I actually quit playing for a year and a half when I was in my mid-20s and it was the worst year and a half of my life. Did I sober up over that time, yes. But it was physically depressing. I have always found that using my creativity and sharing it with other people by writing and creating music definitely helps with the day to day troubles of life.”
Dysmorphia is a remarkable song on so many levels, not least of which is the incredibly personal, empowering message that West imparts through her soul searing lyrics and theatrical vocal performance.
“It’s about my personal struggle in this industry and my body image and what I deal with in daily life just by being a frontwoman of a band. So, I wrote a song about the industry and it’s basically an anthem or a ‘f*** you’ song. We’re all flawed. We all struggle with things, and in this song I have created a safe environment for people to be okay with who they are and to go through their own journey; that it’s okay to have a couple of extra pounds, or if your nose is crooked, if you don’t have the fullest head of hair, or you have lots of acne, all these things are okay,” she said.
“I just want to create an anthem for whoever – girls, guys, trans people, whatever – that it’s okay to be who you are, and you have these things that you struggle with and it’s okay because we all do. And these images that are put out there by the culture and within the music industry, those ideals that are shoved down our throats are just not real. It’s not a real thing, it’s not real life.
“In the song and in the video for Dysmorphia I created an entity, a girl, and she follows me everywhere because she is also a demon. She is something that I constantly have to face, and I feel as though whether you’re a drug addict, or you have committed some terrible crime like murder, or whatever your story, you are facing your demons every day. So, I wanted to create a real-life entity to show people it exists, and that I am going through it too.”
Even in the age of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, West still has to deal with sexism and misogyny within the music industry and from male fans.
“I try hard to write about this in a very real way because I am kind of fed up with the industry and I don’t like to write about fake crap. It’s affected the guys in the band too, the industry is just as mean to them as it is to me. You have to be buff, you can’t be balding or grey, you have to wear certain things. And for me, I actually want to deactivate my personal Facebook page and just do an artist page because my inbox never stops with suggestive photos or guys hitting on me, every day. I always make this joke, but its very true, that I don’t get hit on in real life, I get hit on through the internet,” she said.
“I just got really fed up because I am constantly getting messages from guys propositioning me or showing me photos and it becomes very taxing. In order to forge ahead, there are certain things that whoever is pulling the strings, whether its management or labels or the masses, I always tell supporters or people who listen, the only way the industry is going to change is when they all stop buying into what’s being sold to them.
“I just want to do what I can to create an environment for people to be themselves. In my personal perspective, the world is in such incredible chaos and such a state of turmoil and not going into anything specifically but just from the things I have observed, to have a safe haven for people to be able to put our music on and to listen and for them to be who they are is great and for them to say that this band gets it – gets what they are going through. I try to be positive, but I personally struggle with all that in my own daily life. When I am at our shows, I always tell the women that they are beautiful, and I hug them, and I thank everybody for coming to the shows. I really try to pick out a positive quality with everyone I meet to make them feel good. Because we don’t do that enough, and on social media people are just nasty and cruel.”
Reign of Z is beloved in their hometown and has also forged a wonderful relationship with fans in Baltimore and a few other cities in the U.S. eastern seaboard. The band has played a number of shows on the most recent Warped Tour, and earlier in the summer played a show at the venerable Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles.
Playing a venue that has helped launched the careers of bands like The Doors, Guns ‘n Roses, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Buffalo Springfield and System of a Down was a truly inspirational experience, according to Berg.
“Man, I looked at it as one off the bucket list. Just to be there and see all the history tied to the place, and then to actually get up on that stage and play our own songs, it was an overwhelming experience to say the least. But it was great at the same time,” he said, adding that Reign of Z will hit the road and blanket their region in support of Dysmorphia, while also readying for a larger and more expansive assault for 2019, once Mirrors and Memoirs is released.
“We want to go to Canada. The whole thing about our group is that we are very adventurous. As long as we have a bit of notice, we will do everything we can to try and make things happen. We love to travel, and I think it would be really cool to come to Canada,” added West.
For more information on Reign of Z, Dysmorphia, Mirrors and Memoirs and forthcoming tour dates, visit https://www.reignofz.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and author based in Napanee, ON, who has been writing about music and musicians for a quarter of a century. Besides his journalistic endeavours, he now works as a communications and marketing specialist. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
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It was most refreshing to read such an articulate review. I am completely biased, but wholeheartedly agree with your commentary regarding Reign of Z. Zosia has been involved in numerous projects, but RoZ is by far the most solid fusion of talents. I love each & everyone of the bandmates. They are true artists in every way!