ALBUM REVIEW: Zero Tolerance – One Rule For Them … One Rule For Us … (Chaos Control)
Zero Tolerance are a four-piece punk band from County Durham and One Rule For Them… is their second full-length album.
Graeme Kitto (vocals), Guy Clark (guitar), Ian Kinsman (bass) and Jim Atteridge (drums) released a self-titled mini album in 2019, with debut album Too Young To Die (reviewed here) following in 2021.
Regulars on the North East gig circuit, they’re steadily growing their audience further afield, and made their Rebellion bow on the Introducing stage last year.
Zero Tolerance are proudly working class, and play socially-conscious street-punk, with songs about roots, politics, brotherhood and religion. This album is their best set of songs so far.
Chris Davison at The Forum studio in Darlington has done an excellent production job which means you can hear all the elements clearly, and they’ve never sounded so good.
One Rule For Them…One Rule For Us… kicks off with the title track, which sets out their stall to anyone who doesn’t know what to expect. Dominated by an insistent Dead Kennedys-style riff, it’s driven along by the rhythm section and you can feel the anger as Kitto sings: “You treat us like fools/Abuse your power/I have nothing but contempt for you!”
If you hadn’t worked out already that Zero Tolerance aren’t fans of the Conservatives, it’ll become crystal clear on Working Class Tory, as Kitto mocks: “You sold your soul to the devil/And now you want it back.”
It’s a song brimming over with anger, but it’s controlled, which makes it even more palpable, and it delivers a final damning verdict: “You’re a working class Tory, hang your head in shame.”
Songs Of Yesterday, which pulls you in with a killer riff, is a celebration of the music of our youth. Legends like Mensi and Wattie are namechecked as it insists “Punk rock will never die!“. It’s a contender for best song on the album – but there’s a few.
Dead To Me, about being betrayed by a friend, ups the pace, and is a prime example of the superb production I mentioned earlier, with guitar, bass and drums all vying for your attention.
A throbbing meandering bassline powers Voices in My Head, and it’s joined by another searing riff and bludgeoning drums as ZT turn their attention towards mental health.
Stronger is an upbeat, defiant anthem of solidarity and togetherness, which reminds me of another North East band, the much-missed Kickback Generation, while Army Of Lions is a tribute to soldiers who fought and died for their country in the First World War.
Zero Tolerance have never been afraid to tackle religion and Shadow Of Their God is their latest powerful polemic about all the evils happening in the world while people pray to their deities.
Last Goodbye is Zero Tolerance attempt at a love song, and it’s one which would bring a tear to a glass eye as they say a sad farewell to a one true love and best friend.
Finding inner strength and supportive friends when times are tough inform The Real Enemy, while All For One is another upbeat song of unity and defiance.
Paul The Bastard is a ‘tribute’ to a friend who’s a bouncer, debt collector, roadie, trucker, and all-round handy lad. I hope he realises it’s all in good fun when Kitto sings: “He’s like a fucking terminator, I swear the fucker’s mad“.
This Is Our England is a nostalgic lookback at what made our country great. A green and pleasant land country built on the toil of ordinary folk in shipyards, mines and steelworks, which are now nearly all gone.
Rant, which rounds things off, is a close relation to Champagne Charlie Wankers from the debut mini LP, listing the myriad of reasons why this country is in a mess. It gets angrier as it goes on, concluding: “You’re the ones who voted this set of bastards in.“
I’ve only heard a few of these songs live, and can’t wait to hear more than they make a richly deserved return to Rebellion Festival in Blackpool in August. Angry old men? You fucking bet they are. 8.5/10.
- One Rule For Them … One Rule For Us … is available from Zero Tolerance via their Facebook page HERE or from the band at gigs.
