Artist: The Zone
Title: HYSTERIA
Genre(s): Pop, Nu Disco, House, Synthpop, Electropop, Funky House
Length: 32:40
Writers: C. Adams, L. Allen, C. Hudson, J. Ochoa-Steele, K. Ochoa-Steele, T. Sanders, O. Washington, B. Williams
Producers: makesh1ft, Leland, Alec Kraus, Damini, Rio Sosa
Format(s): CD, Vinyl, Cassette, Digital Download, Streaming
Label: Big Diamond Records
Singles Released: Guess It's True (#1), HYSTERIA (TBA)
HYSTERIA is the second studio album from American boy band The Zone, slated to be released by Big Diamond Records on January 31, 2024. It marks their first studio album in just over a decade, following "The High Life" in 2013. Work on a sophomore album initially started in 2014, with the group acting as a trio following Chris Adams' initial departure. The project was aborted due to the underperformance of the leading single, however. In 2021, the band reformed in their original line-up and work on a new project commenced over a two-year period. "HYSTERIA" was preceded by the release of two singles, "Guess It's True", which went on to become the band's first ever #1 single, and the album's title-track which was released alongside the pre-order of the full project. Primarily a pop record, it also incorporates elements of House, Dance and Nu Disco. "HYSTERIA" features production from an array of European DJs and producers. The Zone serve as executive producers on the album.
BACKGROUND & DEVELOPMENTThe Zone rose to prominence in 2012 amidst the "teen pop boom" of the early 2010s, entering the charts alongside the likes of Weekend, SYNCO, Mandy Williams, Chloe, Andrea, and Austin Nimmo to name but a few. The Zone released their debut single "Nothing They Can Say" in September 2012 to immediate support and acclaim, entering the Chart Heat Top 10 and peaking at #8. The band continued to promote and expand their brand, becoming support acts for Weekend and Isabel's tours, respectively. Three more singles followed in the forms of; "Make Up", "Beautiful in Every Way", and "Give Me a Try", the latter two also becoming Top 10 hits. Their anticipated debut album, "The High Life", was released to commercial success. The album peaked at #4 on Chart Heat Albums and is currently certified Double Platinum. The Zone continued a busy schedule of touring both as a supporting act and also going on to headline their own tour, "The High Life Tour", which ran from 2013 to 2014.
The group immediately began work on their second studio album after the successful release of their debut, pencilling in sessions amidst their tour. 2014 saw the beginning of public backlash and negative media attention for the group following Blake's split from Dustyn Blue-Conners. Scrutiny and intrusion was only amplified as the break-up came shortly after The Zone signed a new deal with Weekend's own label, Five Pesky Kids. Reports of infighting and creative stalemates between members of the band also began to emerge. Founding member Chris Adams quit the band in the spring of 2014, leaving the remaining members to continue as a trio. In June 2014, Blake, Jason and Liam released "Let's Let Go", their first single as a three-piece. The track was universally acclaimed with many dubbing it as "their best release yet". The group was praised for their musical growth and for maintaining a quality standard despite Chris' departure. Although warmly received by fans and critics alike, the single stalled at a lowly #30 on the Chart Heat Singles list. The poor performance of their initial leading single caused the band and Five Pesky Kids to halt plans for a follow-up release. After over a year of silence from anything The Zone related, a photograph of Allen, Ochoa-Steele and Williams working in the studio was posted on the band's official Instagram account in 2016. Despite the revelation of new music being in the works, nothing ever materialised from the sessions. Their follow-up post would be a group statement announcing their "indefinite hiatus" and thanking fans for their support over the years.
On July 20, 2021, The Zone formally announced their return with the original line-up, posting the first new group picture as a four-piece since 2014 across all of their social media platforms. The group began working independently on new material, sourcing collaborators and studio spaces of their own accord and out of their own funds. Despite an official reformation announcement in 2021, the group wouldn't publicly re-emerge until 2023, after spending over a year creating material and searching for a recording contract. The Zone formally announced their signing to Big Diamond Records in May 2023 with the promise of new music "imminently".
Throughout the recording sessions of what would become "HYSTERIA", The Zone worked exclusively with European dance music producers with the intention of finding a "cooler" and "mature" sound, shifting from the American teen-pop of their debut album. All members of the band were heavily involved in the writing process, with Chris Adams having a credit on every song within the final track listing.
MUSIC & LYRICS"HYSTERIA" is an overall uptempo pop album with a "mature" and "refined" sound in comparison to their debut album, "The High Life", which was released when the members of the band were still in their teenage years. The songs on the album have been written from over a decade's worth of experience within the music industry as well as having no restrictions from A&R and labels, dictating potential lyrical themes and content. Topics such as anxiety, drug use, war, love, self esteem, ageing, and heartbreak are touched upon throughout the course of the record. Although not explicit in nature, "HYSTERIA" contains more adult themes and thought-provoking subjects than their first release. The track "High Life 2.0" was specifically written to reference their debut album, and to highlight the growth and the changes of the band and supporters over the past decade.
Chris Adams dubbed the album "an ode to being human", citing his reconciliation with his band members and the numerous feelings he's had to "sit in and process" throughout the years as inspiration for much of his writing on the project. Blake Williams played a significant role in laying out the sonic landscape of the album after making numerous industry connections during his successful solo career. Williams sourced multiple producers for the record, bringing in people he believed could help the band achieve the "cool and glossy" sound they wanted.
SINGLES"Guess It's True" was released as the album's lead single on June 11, 2023. It was The Zone's first release in 9 years and first in a decade to feature all four original members of the band. The single was met with positive reviews and reactions from fans and critics alike, lauding their new "sophisticated" sound and refined, mature image. Many have highlighted the song as the key moment of The Zone going from "boy band" to "man band". "Guess It's True" was a commercial success, debuting at #1 on Chart Heat Singles and instantly becoming their highest-charting and now biggest-selling hit to date.
"HYSTERIA" is the title track and second single from the album. It was released on January 21, 2024 alongside the pre-order of its parent album. Initially pencilled in for a November release, the single was pushed back to a more suitable timeframe as the band did not believe it's House music production would earn it much airplay during the Holiday period. Upon release, the song was universally praised and commended for its "offbeat" styling and "adventurous" lyricism.
TRACKLIST
HYSTERIA
Aftertaste
Safe Here
In Between
Guess It's True
Last Thing
Canyons
High Life 2.0
Morning Glory
Comedown
