Oh dear—hard to believe the legendary debut album by Zig Zags is already 13 years old. Back then, the Californians fused hardcore punk and thrash metal in an irresistible way. Since then, the band has hit some turbulence, and in 2025, Jed Maheu returns with two new bandmates.
Well, new-ish—Sean Hoffman and Jeff Murray have been around for a while now, but Maheu remains the only original member on the new record Deadbeat At Dawn (RidingEasy). The lineup changes haven’t really altered the sound, though—it’s classic Zig Zags through and through.
And maybe too classic. The impact of the debut has worn off. Sure, the songs still kick, but standout moments are hard to find. Despite that, we still get a solid metal record.
The tracks stick to familiar terrain and fray a bit around the edges. There’s a post-apocalyptic vibe that holds some charm, plus a decent throwback to the wild ’80s.
Zig Zags – Deadbeat At Dawn: Decent punk metal. – RIFL