Zion Head - Mount Zion (Zed2diZee)

‘Mount Zion’ opens with ‘Chalice Baptized’, a nyahbinghi percussion-driven track in which Zion Head warns of the dangers of pharmaceuticals and presents marijuana as a safe alternative.

‘Education’ stylistically recalls the early work of Anthony B, while tracks like ‘Little Tuff’, ‘What A Strategy’ and title track ‘Mount Zion’, showcase Zion Head’s vocals closely resembling those of Daweh Congo.

Of a similar order but deserving a special mention is ‘Police A Killer’, a manifesto against police brutality.

In ‘Sound Goes Bang’, a track where Zion Head asserts that it doesn’t matter what title you hold or what you possess when the final judgment is passed, we can already envision hands waving back and forth at his concerts… A true party anthem!

In the second half of the track list, we find a series of duets with artists such as Yasus Afari, who provides a touch of dub poetry in ‘Only If You Try’; Anthony B, in the recognizable closer ‘Mount Zion’ (a track over the riddim of Bob Marley’s ‘Forever Loving Jah’); and Macka B with the successful affirmation of faith ‘Praise To Jah’. However, our personal favourite is ‘Affi Touch Di Road’, a highly infectious up-tempo combination with Stranger Miller and the unfamiliar Cento P.

Highly enjoyable album!