ZEPTER – Zepter

vote
6.5

• Bands:
  ZEPTER
• Duration: 00:34:06
• Available from: 02/20/2026
• Label:

• High Roller Records

Streaming not yet available

Zepter are an Austrian band born in 2024 who seem to have every intention of forging ahead in order to carve out a place of honor in the undergrowth of traditional metal as soon as possible. The quintet, in fact, despite having played together for the first time only two years ago, has already had the opportunity to first publish an EP on cassette, “Inferno”, to arrive today at their actual debut, for High Roller Records.

On the one hand we admire this enthusiasm, the result of healthy passion and that enthusiasm that only a band at the beginning can express. At the same time, however, we cannot even completely close our eyes to a final result which, despite having various strengths, is still very immature.
However, let's take a step back: Zepter play heavy metal that looks nostalgically at the period between the Seventies and Eighties. The tutelary deities are those we know well: Thin Lizzy, UFO, Diamond Head, to get to the first steps of Saxon's NWOBHM, Angel Witch and, of course, Iron Maiden.
Even the production tries to replicate that sound as much as possible, not to mention the artwork, so anchored to the stylistic features of fantasy illustration of those years. In short, these guys do everything they can to make us forget that we are in 2026, to transport us back in time almost half a century.

The objective, however, can only be said to have been partially achieved, because if it is true that – by force of circumstances – we have no problem in overlooking such strong and clear references to names from the past, the quality of the proposal is not free from defects.
The work of the guitars is undoubtedly appreciable, relying on consolidated and effective phrasing, and there are some memorable songs, such as “Everlasting” or “The Exterminator”, with that initial riff that seems to have come out of a dusty drawer in Adrian Smith's house. Curious, but also intriguing, is the choice to record a cover of “Lonely Night” by an obscure Swedish band, Screem, who in fact only released a demo in 1986 before disbanding the following year.
Other songs, however, flow without leaving great emotions, a flaw that is certainly forgivable in a debut, but which must be taken into consideration in light of a scene, that of the so-called NWOTHM, which has already reached notable heights and which, after exponential growth, is now starting to flatten and become saturated.

Finally, another point where a clear step forward is necessary is given by the vocal performance of Lukas Götzenberger, here in the double role of singer and guitarist.
It's incredible how an entire scene, which is openly inspired by a movement that gave birth to legendary singers, pays so little attention to the development of the voice: musicians like Ritchie Blackmore or Michael Schenker worked like hell to discover and grab the best singers on the market, while in recent years it seems that entrusting the microphone to the least worst of the musicians in the line-up is an acceptable solution.

In short, Zepter's debut is marked by lights and shadows: the most nostalgic of all defenders of the faith they will certainly be able to find material of interest, but at the same time it seems to us that the band still needs some time to refine its proposal, develop a defined personality and reach full maturity. Considering the speed with which they have moved so far, it may even take less than expected.