Dave Chamberlain

Tonight marks the last chance to be assaulted by Zeke, a quartet of West Coast metal-punk kids whose music picks up where the Dwarves' "Blood Guts and Pussy" left off. In its wake, Zeke leaves a collection of some of the nineties' most aggressive, abusive and straight-up violent speed-punk; the best of the band's nine records was just released as a thirty-four, live-track retrospective on "Live and Uncensored" (Dead Teenager). With the majority of the band's songs clocking in at just more than one minute, Zeke--like the Dwarves--never pulls its thematic punches. The brutality of songs titles like "Raped," "Fuck All Night," "Wanna Fuck" and "West Seattle Acid Party" is matched by walls of furious guitars, vocals that more closely resemble an angry wolverine than a human voice, and tempos that could kick start the heart of a dead man. And unlike so many of its punk-rock predecessors, Zeke never entertained--or made us suffer through--any grand illusions of becoming anything more than it was from the beginning. Not many punk bands go out like that, and here's to Zeke for knowing when to call it quits.

Zeke plays its final show in Chicago, May 10 at the Fireside Bowl, 2646 West Fullerton, (773)486-2700.

(2003-05-07)

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