Authority Zero “The Tipping Point” Album Review
Authority Zero
The Tipping Point
review by Denise Borders
After two decades of being a band, Authority Zero brings us their fifth studio album, The Tipping Point. The band named the record after the Malcolm Gladwell book, The Tipping Point. YES, PUNK GUYS CAN READ! It’s very exciting. Recorded at Maple Studios in Orange County, California with producer Cameron Webb (Pennywise, Social Distortion, Motorhead) , the band says this record pays tribute to their punk predecessors whilst broadening their own sound.
Available 4.02.2013
TRACK LIST:
01 No Other Place
02 Undivided
03 For The Kids
04 Take Or Leave It
06 Lift One Up
05 Struggle
07 On The Brink
08 Today We Heard The News
09 The Tipping Point
10 Shakedown In Juarez
11 Endless Roads
12 21st Century Breakout
No Other Place starts the record off with a great So Cal punk feel even though this is a mostly Arizona based band. For the general punk fan, this track has everything you could want: fast drums, athematic chorus and a few screams along with some sing-a-long lines. I love the build up the track gives you around 2:07. I can imagine this song going over very well to a live crowd.
Undivided is a bit mellower and sort of has a hint of Rise Against-ness. It’s much more melodic that the previous track so already the band is giving you a different side. I haven’t been a Rise Against fan since Siren Song but that is not a dis on this track (haha for anyone that knows me I’m thinking that was your first impression when you read that line). I am a fan of AZ’s faster stuff however, so it’s not my favorite track on the record, but I don’t hate it either.
I was excited to hear For The Kids because some of my favorite punk songs of all time have similar titles (think Lagwagon…). Within 30 seconds, I’m sold on the track. It’s still a little more on the mellow side but still has a nice upbeat tone throughout the entire song. I also really like the lyrics in this one, it just seems like an overall positive song. Get into it.
Take it or Leave It and Lift One Up are solid mid-album tracks. Some records lull around here but I really like both of these songs. Thus far I am a bit surprised at how mellow a lot of these tracks are, as I’m used to something a little faster paced from these dudes. I’m still digging it though, it sounds well produced and I’m glad this band is still making music after all these years.
I’m going to skip forward to the title track, The Tipping Point. It begins slower but picks up in less than a minute. Something about this song does it for me; it could be that it’s a little all over the place with the melody. You never know which direction it’s going to go (this is judging from the first time I listened to it) but it all goes together in the end. It’s another song that reminds me a bit of old Rise Against. Again… not a dis, hence the OLD part. Hehe
The last three tracks, Shakedown in Juarez, Endless Roads, and 21st Century Breakout are a great finish to this record. I will admit it didn’t blow me out of my seat or anything, but I liked something about every track. I can’t expect to be blown away from every new record, especially from a band that’s been around as long as Authority Zero. With that said, this is a record of 12 solid tracks. I don’t think fans will be disappointed, and I think they’ll pick up a few new ones if some fresh ears give it a whirl. It’s a very likeable album with great sing-a-longs and unyielding riffs. I look forward to seeing them play these tracks live! OKAY BYE YOU GUYS
You can also stream the entire album on Alt Press now!
TOUR DATES
Authority Zero Tour Dates:
05.04.13 RUS-Moskau, Plan B
06.04.13 RUS-Kursk, Sound Check
07.04.13 RUS-Belgorod, Hard Party
08.04.13 RUS-Moskau, TBA (Accoustic Show)
09.04.13 UKR-Kiev, TBA
10.04.13 UKR-Kiev,
11.04.13 GER-Wiesbaden, Kreativwerkstatt
12.04.13 GER-Saarbrücken, Garage
14.04.13 SUI-Basel, Sommercasino
15.04.13 ITA-Mailand, Rock’n’Roll Club
16.04.13 ITA-Cecina, Shuffle Club
17.04.13 SLO-Laibach, Gala Hala
18.04.13 AUT- Graz, Explosiv
19.04.13 AUT-Vöcklabruck, OKH
20.04.13 AUT-Wien, Shelter
21.04.13 GRE-Athen, Oneirodromeio House of Art
22.04.13 GER-Hannover, Bei Chez Heinz (& Nothington)
23.04.13 GER-Hamburg, Hafenklang
24.04.13 GER-Mönchengladbach, Blaues Haus
25.04.13 BEL-Mechelen, Club Kamikaze
26.04.13 GER-Essen, Panic Room
27.04.13 GER-München, Feierwerk
28.04.13 GER-Freiburg, Walfisch
29.04.13 FRA-Paris, Le Petit Bain (& A Wilhelm Scream & Flatliners)
01.05.13 FRA-Toulouse, Les Saints des Seins (& A Wilhelm Scream)
02.05.13 ESP-Madrid, Sala Live (& Comeback Kid & A Wilhelm Scream)
03.05.13 ESP-Barcelona, Sala Razzmatazz (& Pennywise & A Wilhelm Scream)
04.05.13 ESP-Bilbao, Sala Santana (& Pennywise & A Wilhelm Scream)
05.05.13 FRA-Pau, TBA
09.05.13 GBR-Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
10.05.13 GBR-Newcastle, O2 Academy
12.05.13 GBR-London, Underworld
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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