Hi Jasun and thank you very much for honoring our webzine. Before moving on to the core of this interview I'd like to congratulate you for your excellent new delivery.

Thank you so much man and we're very, very proud of "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond". Glad you enjoyed our new release and thank you for help spreading the word about us.

So "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" is out on the stores for quite a while and as far as I can tell it's one of the best progressive metal album and among my top choices for 2006. I believe you feel the same. Would you dare to say that this is your best effort so far?

I would say it's my Favorite release with "The Towers of Avarice". "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" I will say is the strongest CD to date from all the members in the band. We put everything into this release.

Both the media and the fans in their majority seem to share the same opinion with me. How satisfied are you with the acceptance of the metal community so far?

It's the best feeling to know people are enjoying the new disc. This is the most well received CD to date for Zero Hour and the band is stronger than ever. We just finished doing the ProgPower USA Festival and Power Prog West Festival that had Nevermore on the bill. We finished an amazing tour playing dates in TX, MD, VA, MASS, NY, NJ and the response was amazing.

This time it didn't take you too long to release a new album, almost a year if I'm correct, unlike "A Fragile Mind" that took you almost three years. What was done different on this one?

"Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" was a very focused CD start to finish. We went through a tough period getting "A Fragile Mind" due to a singer change and the vocalist who did "A Fragile Mind" was very unpleasant to work with. Instead of material already prepared and brought into the studio like AFM." Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" was built from the ground up with Troy, Mikey and I just jamming in the studio and letting the material take shape organically. We decided to throw the kitchen sink at the listener and keeping the listener at the edge of their seat. Chris did and amazing job with the vocal process and he's not only and excellent singer, but a really nice guy.

Once again you've chosen to leave the sound in the hands of Dino Alden. This move shows great trust to his abilities and musical instinct? How satisfied are you from the final outcome and please give us some more details on the recording sessions and the final mastering.

Dino has always delivered for Zero Hour and I think he's best engineer and producer Zero Hour could ever ask for. Sonically Dino knows exactly what's needed for Zero Hour. He's a great friend to Troy and I and is the 5th member of Zero Hour.

In my opinion each Zero Hour album sounds different than its predecessor. Of course the core of your music is progressive metal, but all the same "The Towers of Avarice" follows a more staccato progressive rhythm, "A Fragile Mind" sounds different with some aggressive and some more melodic parts, while "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" sounds more technical and progressive close to "Towers…", but with a more jazzy feeling at points. What forces these turns of your sound and how much do you think of it during the writing process?

Well you explained it perfectly and we go in with every CD to have it's own voice from the Zero Hour catalog but at the same time the listener knows it's Zero Hour. The process for "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" was a very organic process and we are using more jazzy/fusion style chord formats in the material. Plus this makes the vocals take a new approach and gives a fresh listen to us and the listeners.

Continuing on the previous question I'd like to ask you who is mostly responsible for the song-writing and what is your main source of inspiration?

Troy and I really put all the music together. Once that's taken shape we make a CDR for Chris of the music and he writes some lyrics and melody lines. Troy helps in the lyrics and melodies as well and as soon as we get Chris in the studio more producing towards the vocals is put together by Troy, Dino and myself.

A new guy stands behind the mic named Chris Salinas, one of the best prog voices out there and an excellent choice for Zero Hour. Before asking you why you've chosen him I'd like to know what lead to this change.

When working with Fred in the studio we knew right away he wouldn't work for the future of Zero Hour. There was plenty of times in the studio he would say if you hear anything you don't like just let me know and we'll change it. As soon as we would say something he would get all defensive and just wasn't willing to listen to anyone but himself. All the members help push each other to get the best performance out of each guy. He just wasn't willing to listen to anything we had to say and he was very unpleasant to work with. I contacted Chris right away and asked if he'd do live shows for Zero Hour.

How and when did you decide that Chris was the right guy for Zero Hour? Where you familiar with his previous work with Power of Omens? Was he your first and only choice.

We knew of Chris back when he was in Power of Omens and we played Progpower USA 1 with Power of Omens. I talked to Chris for 45 minutes and knew he was a very nice guy and took his vocals very seriously. Once we saw him live we knew he was the real deal and Troy, Mikey and I were very impressed. Once I called Chris about live dates he told me Zero Hour is one of his favorite bands and would love to join the band if we're interested in him. When calling him I was only looking to do live shows knowing he was still in Power of Omens. He told me that Power of Omens were on their last leg and he wanted to be a part of Zero Hour. I asked Troy and Mikey and right away Chris was in the band.

I know that this is not a question for you, but I'd really like to know how easy was for him to leave Power of Omens and join your team. Did he agree on this move right away or did he need some time to make up his mind? The thing that many, including me, believe that Chris' voice is very close to Geoff Tate's didn't seem to affect your decision. Weren't you afraid that some might "use" it as a drawback of your music?

He right away wanted in with Zero Hour and after that we decided instead of doing live shows lets just go in and do a CD with the new lineup. This is going to be the band for many, many more CD's, performances and this is the future of Zero Hour. It didn't affect our decision because Chris is just an awesome vocalist. He's a great talent and knew he would be a great fit vocally and personality wise. You have to get along with the guy's you play in a band with and everyone has to have the same goals in mind. I think he's one of the strongest singers out there today.

All these years you've changed 3 singers. Even though it's hard to predict, can you say that Chris will stick with the band in the future and why do you think so?

No doubt about it. We didn't want to go through another singer change and Zero Hour just wanted the right guy. We have the unit in place and we're all very excited about the future.

Now let's return to "Specs…". What's hidden behind the title and the artwork? Who is responsible for the cover art?

Bjoern of Killustrations did an amazing job on the cover. "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" is about a man who can recognize an image but his memory of the is distorted. I told Bjoern That I wanted a depressing look to the cover. Industrial apartment/flats buildings with burning pictures flying in the air, sticking to the building, the dround, in the air like a swarm of bees. In the middle you have a man holding a picture as it's burning. He captured every element we wanted in the cover and that's not an east task by any means.

Is there a concept idea behind the lyrics of the songs and how are they connected with the artwork, if they are connected at all?

"Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" isn't a conceptual CD. We wanted all the songs to have their own story and identity. Here's a couple examples. "The Falcon's Cry" just has amazing dynamics musically and vocally start to finish. Musically the song really took shape on it's own from the crazy sequences of the bass, guitars and drums playing totally different repetitions came full circle joining at the end. After the chaos, beautiful lush clean tones gives the song all new atmosphere. The vocals and lyrics are beautiful and is based off a man in the later stages of his life doing something he loved when he was young and strong. He takes the strenuous journey up in the mountain and fights his way to the top to see the beautiful view his eyes wanted to see one last time. Evidence of the Unseen of is about wanting give those you love and care about most in the World. Always trying to reach those impossible dreams to make a better future for his loved ones. The music is heavy, in your face with an amazingly heavy, catchy guitar riff to bang your head to.

Generally speaking what is your main source of inspiration on the lyrical part?

We wanted to use material that is up lifting and some that's depressing. Chris went through some rough periods in his life and is expressed in "I Am Here", Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond. I like the message and uplifting lyrics of Evidence of the Unseen and The Falcon's Cry. Inspiration usually rises from the dynamics going on in our life and what the person is feeling in that time period. It just comes out that way.

With the release of "Specs…" I must admit that Zero Hour is one of the best progressive metal bands out there, at least that's what I think. Unfortunately it seems that so far you haven't gained the recognition you deserve, at least outside the circle of progressive metal. Why do you think this is happening and how optimist are you for the future? Can "Specs…" open the way to total recognition?

There's a lot to digest in Progressive Metal and it's just not the popular style of music. However many fans are looking for deep, technical music again. I see that the younger crowds are now starting to seek complicated material and that's a great thing for the future of Progressive Metal. I love playing this style of music and I hope it does gain more recognition. We love and believe in the material we play and you can't play something that's not in your heart or music fans will see right through you.

Are there any touring plans made yet?

Zero Hour is going to Headline the Groove or Die Festival in Portland Oregon Jan 5th with a couple other festivals in the States. We're very pleased to announce we'll be playing the Headway Festival www.headwayfestival.com in April of 2007 in Holland. We'll be doing additional dates in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and the UK with Into Eternity and To-Mera in April after the Headway Festival. Please check our web-pages www.myspace.com/zerohourband & www.zerohourweb.com for exact dates in the near future.

When should we expect a new Zero Hour release. Any future plans made yet?

Early 2008 Zero Hour will have another CD together and very energized with the material put together thus far.

Before closing one last question on your other project band Death Machine. Are you working on something or planning to do so in the near future?

Zero Hour is the priority at the moment and really can't say just yet on when another Death Machine CD will be done.

Jasun billion thanks for your precious time and accept my apologies for this lengthy interview. I wish you all the best for the future and hope to hear for Zero Hour soon. Any last words?

It was a pleasure doing the interview with you Alekos and thank you so much for all your help and support towards Zero Hour......YOU RULE!!!