Tape by Zerum: A Raw, Gritty Ride Through Punk and Crust Chaos
If you’re into music that punches you in the gut and then asks if you want more, Tape by Zerum is your jam. Released back in 2018 on Atman-Music (shoutout to Germany for keeping it real), this album doesn’t mess around. It’s a no-frills, high-energy explosion of punk and crust that feels like getting hit by a runaway train—except you kinda love it.
The tracklist might look like binary code at first glance—0001, 0111, 0110—but don’t let that fool ya. These songs are anything but robotic. They’re messy, raw, and full of heart. Two tracks really stuck with me after spinning this record a few times: 0001 and 0110.
Let’s start with 0001, the opener. Man, this thing hits hard right outta the gate. The guitars scream like they’ve got something to prove, and the drums? Holy crap, they sound like they were recorded in someone’s garage during an earthquake. But somehow, it works. There’s this moment about halfway through where everything drops out except for this gnarly bassline—it’s so grimy and distorted, it feels like the floor just fell out from under you. You don’t expect it, but damn, does it leave a mark.
Then there’s 0110, which is wild in its own way. This one starts off slow, almost teasing you, like “Oh, we’re gonna chill now?” Nope. About a minute in, all hell breaks loose. The vocals here are feral—like, I’m pretty sure someone lost their voice recording this. And honestly? That’s what makes it awesome. It’s not polished or perfect; it’s real. By the end, my ears were ringing, but I couldn’t stop hitting replay.
What’s cool about Tape is how unapologetically itself it is. No fancy production tricks, no overthinking—it’s just straight-up rock ‘n’ roll with a punk edge and crust vibes. Listening to it feels like hanging out with old friends who smell like sweat and cigarettes but always make you laugh. It’s chaotic, sure, but isn’t that kinda beautiful?
Here’s the kicker though—I listened to this while folding laundry last week, and suddenly, I wasn’t bored anymore. Folding socks became this weirdly cathartic experience. Who knew German punk could save me from domestic drudgery? So yeah, maybe give Tape a spin next time life feels too predictable. Trust me, it’ll shake things up.
