By Matt Kastner 
In a world riddled by the corporate music industry, there are very few bands who attempt something different and fresh than what is usually heard from the norm. Such is the case with the hard rock act, Slavior. Founded by drummer Mark Zonder (formerly of Fates Warning), this is a band you definitely do not want to pass up. Even though Mark Zonder is in the band, do not label Slavior a progressive band. He’ll even tell you that it isn’t. What we have here is more of an alternative or hard rock band with “progressive” drumming. “A lot of these songs are based on drum riffs, because the whole point in me starting this is to express a lot of the ideas that I had,” Zonder states.
Joined by guitarist Wayne Findlay (Micheal Schenker Group) and vocalist Gregg Analla (Tribe of Gypsies), Zonder produces some truly unique music.When you think you have Slavior’s style figured out, they hit you with a completely different musical style. The band goes from bombastic rock with the intro “Origin” to latin with “Another Planet” and reggae with “Dove.” There are many different styles covered in this album, you won’t know what direction the band will take you in next. The drumming from Zonder will have you bobbing your head or tapping your foot to the groove of the song. On certain tracks, the guitar work done by Findlay will have you head banging like you’re at a Pantera concert. Analla’s vocals are great and at points he comes off as a melodic Phil Anselmino or Maynard James Keenan.
In this day and age, when a new band comes along or even when a well established band releases a new album, rarely am I instantly blown away when I first hear it. This is not the case with Slavior. Mark this band on your “must hear” list. You won’t regret it.
http://www.markzonder.com/