REVIEW: Respect For Zero - Overtime

An amalgamation of performers that possess this unwavering devotion to the hardcore genre, Respect For Zero was born from the tumultuous windy eastern coast of Italy, their craft never far diverting from these beginnings, with their tracks possessing a wuthering, windswept nature to them. In a world where music is so often viewed as a form of escapism, Overtime and its gritty realism is a breath of fresh air, becoming this incredibly accurate portrayal of life in the 21st century. It breaks from the norm, telling everything as it is, bringing back this sense of revolt and defiance that alternative music was based around. This sense of rebellion undermines everything they do, with Respect For Zero being unequivocally unafraid to be different, to be at odds with society. 

Opening with ‘Reaching Death’, the poignant depth of the EP is immediately apparent through a nostalgic yet unnerving bassline, centering the listener in the bleakness of the world of addiction. Whilst many artists falter when attempting to juggle a balance of meaning and method, Respect For Zero doesn’t, acing both. They play with such intensity and conviction, the likes of which have gone unseen in the hardcore scene since the glory days of Minor Threat. The calculated attack on culture the song projects is propelled by the pace, kick-started by the bass of Luca Paoletti, with the sturdy rhythm continuing on with the heavy hits of the drums, orchestrated by Luca Cruciani.  Whilst the world still clings tenaciously to these barbaric, time-hallowed traditions of skirting around topics of abuse and addiction, Respect For Zero breaks through these taboos with deep lyricism, directly calling out not just to the audience, but to society as a whole, dragging the listener deep into their plea for change. 

‘Mirror’ follows up ‘Reaching Death’. It is a visceral song full of texture, with the tremolo creating this snarling war cry, displaying headstrong defiance against a world that spoon feeds you propaganda. The message of ‘Mirror’ is clear, with the lyricism being strong and sturdy, much like System Of A Down’s Hypnotise, but at times lacks any metaphorical depth, not coming off as profound as it could be. ‘Mirror’ becomes a manifesto for those society has continually treated as zero, as gum on the sole of their shoe, as it directly questions the relationship between the mass media and society, whilst also creating a nuanced relationship between the listener and the band. Despite a lack of artistic meaning, the track is a highlight of the EP, in part due to its classic style, practically forcing the listener's head back and forward into an intense head thrash, taking control of your limbs, causing you to flail around as it invokes this deep need to mosh. It is a track that would truly be best heard live. 

‘Sagnol’ is relatively forgettable, with a structure that is neither bland nor atonal, becoming generic with its cyclical structure and its overused fade out, symbolic of a hellish condemnation. ‘Born Again’ is where the EP picks up again. Hacking and sawing drumwork undermine the track, the use of cymbals becomes a steady saw slicing away like an axe to a tree underneath everything in this overlapping texture. Branches shake and tremble with the intensity of ‘Born Again’. The tension present within the song is immediately apparent due to an excellent blend of instrumentals, the bass, the guitar, and the drums all work in unison to create an overwhelming strain of pressure that builds and builds and builds. And just when the tension peaks, when the tree is one strike away from being toppled, the EP ends abruptly and anticlimactically. The tree never falls. There is no big showstopper finale, in a bleak yet realistic portrayal of life. 

Much like Sabrina Carpenter, Overtime is Short n’ Sweet. Respect For Zero crams an abundance of meaning into such a short EP, displaying an aptitude towards artistry despite its short runtime. Overtime forms the beginning of a new chapter, opening up the eyes of the world to the failures of society, and to their music. 

Score: 7/10

Overtime was released on June 30th 2025 via Time To Kill Records. 

Words: Dylan Milton

Photos: Respect For Zero