Zonaria
The Cancer Empire

January 2009
Released: 2009, Century Media
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Bruce Sanchez

After releasing INFAMY AND THE BREED in 2007 via Pivotal records, Zonaria has signed to Century Media offering THE CANCER EMPIRE as their newest ominous opus. Drawing influences from Hypocrisy and Dimmu Borgir (especially Dimmu Borgir), THE CANCER EMPIRE is a compilation of melody, intensity, and atmosphere.



While the production is top notch, there’s still much lacking in Zonaria’s sophomore effort. It's just not a very explored album, it's just rehashing sounds that have already been heard. Every song is basically the same, following the same formula and pattern. And honestly, I could have been fooled into thinking this was just another Dimmu Borgir album (minus the symphony). It’s more of the same added to an already overgrown pile. I will say, however, that they do it better than most. Because when I say that these guys can pass off as Dimmu Borgir, that’s not an entirely bad thing since so many bands try to emulate DB and fail. Zonaria does it effortlessly.



THE CANCER EMPIRE, for the most part, falls flat. The riffs are tired and the synths are stale. Yet the musicians behind it have potential to create something much grander in scope. Let's hope that happens.