REVIEW: Shayan Regan – ‘Zero Hour: Genesis’

With the release of his ambitious new collection ‘Zero Hour: Genesis’, multi-genre artist and producer Shayan Regan dives headfirst into a technicolour swirl of guitar-driven alt-rock that pulses with vintage spirit while breathing unmistakably in the present. There’s a sun-warmed looseness here, but it never feels trapped in amber. Instead, he refracts those classic sensibilities through a contemporary lens, creating something immersive, vibrant and alive.

The record thrives on motion. Tracks shimmer and sway, propelled by elastic basslines and radiant electric leads that seem to spiral skyward before settling back into a grounded groove. Harmonies stack and bloom with a richness that feels celebratory rather than grandiose, while rhythmic builds unfold naturally, never forced. It’s expansive and colourful, but always anchored in emotional clarity.

What makes ‘Genesis’ particularly compelling is its treatment of affection and connection. Rather than dramatising romance as turmoil or tragedy, Regan approaches it as that strange gravitational pull when another person alters your orbit. The songs drift through stages of infatuation and closeness, capturing the dizzy, chest-tightening euphoria of falling into something new.

Sonically, there’s a tactile warmth to everything. Guitars glow rather than glare. The percussion breathes, effects swirl like incense smoke, but the hooks remain front and centre. Some moments glide with dreamy ease, while others burst forward with confident, riff-heavy energy, giving the album a dynamic push-and-pull that keeps it engaging from start to finish.

Most importantly, ‘Zero Hour: Genesis’ has a reverence channelled through genuine creativity. Shayan Regan clearly understands the lineage he’s drawing from, but he’s not content to imitate. Instead, he builds a cohesive body of work that invites you to press play and stay awhile.

If this is the beginning of a larger artistic chapter, it’s a thrilling first page.