The Zebulonites - The Zebulonites EP (Rebel Sound Records)

The band started life as Groundswell, but after getting guitarist/vocalist Michael Martin on board, the name was changed to The Zebulonites. Martin hails from Zebulon, a small village in North Carolina, and the Gospel according to Matthew chapter 4:13-17 mentiones: "And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying: "The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".

Just as Christ began his conversion mission in Zebulon, so did Michael's reggae mission start in a small American village of the same name. And of course there's also the connection with The Tribe of Zebulon, one of the twelve tribes within the Rastafarian Twelve Tribes movement. The EP counts three tracks... Opener 'Do You Love Me', a somewhat insignificant love song, couldn't really convince, but with conscious tracks 'Let Judah In', and especially closing track 'Race War', The Zebulonites prove what they have to offer.