Italian jazz metal trio Zu return with “Ferrum Sidereum”, an instrumental double album that continues their tradition of freely blending genres to fit their musical intentions. Their music combines the complexity of progressive rock, the grit of industrial, the precision of metal, the energy of punk, and the intelligence of jazz. The result is a sonic journey that is as cerebral as it is visceral, defying easy categorisation while remaining unmistakably Zu. “Ferrum Sidereum”, which translates from Latin as “iron of (or from) the stars” refers to meteoric ore, which had a deep spiritual significance in ancient times and is contained in such artifacts as Egyptian ritual objects with Tutankhamun’s meteoric iron dagger as the best known example or in some Tibetan “Phurpa” blades. Iron coming from the stars forms the elemental base that shapes Zu’s otherworldly narrative on this album. The trio spent over a year refining this proliferating 80-minute epic through relentless rehearsals and live studio recordings in the city of Bologna. It soon emerged that the tracks had to be epic and needed space to live and breathe, meaning they would not conform to today’s algorithm-driven norms. The last piece of the musical puzzle fell into place when three-time Grammy-winning sound engineer Marc Urselli expressed interest in recording and potentially producing Zu’s next album through a mutual friend. This opportunity immediately caught the band’s attention, as they had never worked with a producer and recognized the need for someone capable of guiding them to create an 80-minute album. Band and producer balanced raw intensity with refined production tweaks and textures. The result is a contemporary, rich, and immersive sound that defines “Ferrum Sidereum”. Zu were founded in 1999 and already released their debut full-length “Bromio” the same year. Their collaboration with iconic FAITH NO MORE and MR. BUNGLE frontman Mike Patton on their 2009 album “Carboniferous” made a significant impact and raised the Italians’ status. Through a spontaneous and organic creative process, Zu forged a fresh and innovative sound that seamlessly intertwines many layers of the Italian trio’s musical heritage, drawing from progressive rock, metal, and industrial genres. “Ferrum Sidereum” beckons to discover a new musical universe!

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