A Silver Mt. Zion

**I'd just like to take a moment and explain that you click the link BELOW the album cover to download the album. Lots of people have been asking, so I figured I'd clarify. Anyways, on with the show.**

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Quebec, Canada's Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, referred to as A Silver Mt. Zion (ASMZ) for the sake of simplicity, has been around the block. Some might even say that they helped make the block. When you were still in diapers and loving the Barney theme-song, ASMZ's mastermind (Efrim Menuck) was tearing the lid off of orchestrated, avant-garde post-rock in Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Much to the dismay of the entire planet, GY!BE went on an indefinite hiatus...and thus spawned the affectionate lovechild...A Silver Mt. Zion. If you listened to GY!BE then you can definitely feel the influence in ASMZ. On ASMZ's first three albums...it's almost like you're actually listening to a weirdly creative and orchestral version of GY!BE. It makes sense after all, considering three of the seven members of ASMZ played in GY!BE.

This isn't to say they're the same however. ASMZ sports some very jazzy and minimal tunes that weren't as typical of GY!BE. Undoubtedly, there's also a very old Jewish world-music type of style in some of their songs that just feels right. Furthermore...there's always that whole vocals thing they've started doing on their last two releases. Out of nowhere, ASMZ boasts some of the craziest folky "community-singing" you'll hear. They have a choir, all seven members of the band sing, etc. etc. The vocals might take some getting used to...but it pays off. Lyrically, they've proved to be as insightful and beautiful as they are musically.

Chances are, after 9 years, these guys still have a lot of life left in them. Things aren't looking good for GY!BE on the reunion front... so don't waste your time wishing for things that won't happen...especially when you can listen to the next best thing.

A Silver Mt. Zion (1999 - Present)


A Silver Mt. Zion - He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms… (2000)


A Silver Mt. Zion - Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward. (2001)


A Silver Mt. Zion - "This Is Our Punk-Rock," Thee Rusted Satellites Gather + Sing, (2003)


A Silver Mt. Zion - Horses in the Sky (2005)


A Silver Mt. Zion - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons (2008)

Godspeed.
-Tarik