Venezuelan post-hardcore collective Zeta (interviewed for IDIOTEQ last year) has released “Steps,” the second single from their forthcoming album Was It Medicine to You?, set to drop on January 9, 2024, via Born Losers Records.
The track, featuring guest vocals from Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin), is an exploration of recovery, inspired by the 12-step philosophy and the concept of surrender as a transformative act.
Reflecting on the song’s message, Zeta explains: “This is a song inspired by the N/A rooms. ‘Keep coming back’ is what they say, how they end every reading, every interaction. I found that really inspiring. The first step—surrendering and admitting you have a problem—is particularly powerful regardless of what you’re facing.”
Anthony Green adds, “When I heard the song and the story behind it, I immediately felt connected to its meaning and felt honored to contribute to its purpose.”
Was It Medicine to You? marks a significant shift for Zeta, as it is their first album sung entirely in English.
The record also features a collaboration with Pierce Jordan of Soul Glo, further highlighting the band’s connections within the global post-hardcore and punk communities. The album blends their signature Afro-Caribbean rhythms with elements of punk, post-rock, and 70s-era psychedelia, creating a sound described by Brooklyn Vegan as “truly genre-defying.”
To support the album, Zeta has announced an extensive tour, kicking off in Charleston, SC, on January 9, 2024. Highlights include intimate venues such as Snug Harbor in Charlotte and Foto Club in Philadelphia, as well as a series of March dates supporting RX Bandits.
January Dates:
1/9 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Pour House (Deck Stage)
1/10 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
1/15 – Amityville, NY @ AMH
1/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Foto Club
March Dates with RX Bandits:
3/13 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
3/14 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
3/15 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
Tickets for all dates are available now.
Thematically, Was It Medicine to You? delves into questions of resilience, healing, and the human condition.
The band’s multi-instrumentalist founders, Juan Chi and Dani Debut, aim to create music that serves as both a cathartic experience and a communal ritual. Zeta’s sound is rooted in dense polyrhythmic percussion influenced by Afro-Caribbean traditions, fused with atmospheric post-rock and visceral punk energy.
As noted by New Noise Magazine, “It is music so centered around beauty, community, and understanding that it feels like what home should be.”
Formed in 2003 in the small coastal town of Lechería, Venezuela, Zeta has evolved into a multidisciplinary project now based in South Florida. The lineup includes Juan Chi, Dani Debut, drummer Chino Sandoval, and bassist Tony Pereira.
Was It Medicine to You? is available for pre-order now on vinyl through Born Losers Records.
In other news, IDIOTEQ has made it to the 25 Best Post Hardcore Blogs and Websites in 2024, securing the second spot on this prestigious list curated by FeedSpot.
If you’re looking for more post-hardcore vibes, check out our Post-Hardcore Playlist on Spotify.
