To truly understand and appreciate the work that is Fiction Portfolio from St. Louis metal heads Begin At Zero, you need proper context. Find that here, here and also here.

For everyone who is new to Begin At Zero and isn’t clicking the above links, understand this isn’t any mainstream, hipster, trendy bullshit.

This is truly unique and Fiction Portfolio is the progression of one of the youngest, developing bands on the scene you haven’t heard yet.

The music of Begin At Zero is well thought out. They also pour everything fiber of their beings into their craft.

The song structure of each track on Fiction Portfolio is seamless.

With every song ranging in length from 4:00 – 7:00, it’s obvious they don’t care about radio play, but I guarantee these guys are all out blazing, in-your-face metal and there is no denying the instrumentation and dedication to those instruments.

This crew is technically precise.

When we get into the vocals, things might get more debatable as you will either love or hate them; alternating in conversation with one member on screamo duties and the other handling the more melodic side of the coin.

I’m not here to debate, so to each their own on this specificity, however, you will find yourself enjoying and falling in love with the long instrumental, break-out jam sessions resulting in the lengthy, but most appropriate, duration of each track.

Fiction Portfolio is more operatic than anything, telling a story. I would call this a novel written to music. Poetry, in a more epic and dramatic form.

If you dig this type of thing and love watching new bands progress as much as I do, then go support this release.

Connect with the band on FB, Twitter or subscribe on YouTube. You can listen to the album below.

Please excuse me while I get back to rocking my air instrument of choice like a crazed madman.