Zao - SelfTitled (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

Read

pod_warrior1 | Quakertown, PA United States | 04/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Read Tyler Dunahoos review on the next page. Does anyone get the feeling that this is one of the guy's Zao wrote about in Trashcanhands???? i mean, if this poor lost soul is listening to Korn and Limp Bizkit, and saying it is BETTER than Zao, ONLY because Zao is CHRISTIAN!? please do NOT take what he says seriously, rather pitty the poor man, and hope that someday he'll find God, and God will show him GOOD music! ps by saying that Zao "groans and yells 'Jesus' as loud as they can" just proves he didn't take the time to actually LISTEN to the music."

ANOTHER MUST BUY!

Andrew | Fairfield, CA. | 03/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ever since I first heard ZAO had a new CD, I was waiting for months in anticipation, and I sure tell you I am not one bit dissappointed! Ever since I bought the CD "Liberate te ex Inferis (Save Yourself From Hell)" and heard "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest", I was amazed with their power and might that they deliver in their music and in their lyrics. This CD I have to say is must buy (like all the ZAO cds). There is a big difference though between this CD and the rest of ZAO's discography. This CD is not as dark as all the others, and I think I may know why. I have friends, parents, and have heard many other people speculate ZAO as "demonic" and "too dark and evil" for a Christian band, so they probably got a little bit annnoyed by these negative comments, so they changed around a little bit. I personally don't like hearing anything like that, because ZAO has always delivered a powerful message that is so gripping that it scares people. A couple examples, in Blood and Fire (just the title alone is extreme), the cover has a man with fire blazing from his face, and several songs on the CD talk about taking someone's life for granted before they die, which relates to singer Daniel Weyandt's life. On Liberate, there is a song (If These Scars Could Speak) about an old band member who was an outstanding church citizen, who went to hang out with this girl who was a friend of the band, and he... her, and no one believed her because he was thought to be such a great Christian, so she couldn't express her internal scars. Heavy eh? A bit too heavy for some obviously. ZAO has MANY songs like that, God has sure blessed Daniel with the gift of writing. Well, in this album, ZAO still delivers a powerful message about life, but not as much in a bloodred way like all the old stuff. It is still gripping, and I don't think any ZAO fan should be dissappointed, for this is another unreal release. Musically, the CD has a lot more melodic tunes than ever before, and it has probably the best recording by means of studio work yet. Even though this is a great CD, I don't think any CD at all could match up with Blood and Fire, but it sure comes close in my opinion. The drums are fiercer than ever and Dan shows off his vocal ability, by using his beautiful singing voice in some of the more melodic songs, and user a wider range of hardcore vocals. I think pretty much every song on it is really good, but my favorite song would have to be number 9 (The Dreams that Don't Come True), because it is probably the most emotionally touching songs on the album. So in a word, this CD is AMAZING, and a definite must buy."

This CD is simply amazing, no bones about it.

Jeff Wiersma | Worcester, Massachusetts | 04/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I honestly did not think that "Liberate Te Ex Infernis" could be topped. But man was I wrong. This album wastes no time in pummeling with the opening track 5 Year Winter. The great thing about this album is its versatility, as the second track, Alive is Dead, has its own restrained intensity in instrumental form. Other hard-hitting tracks include A Tool To Scream, Trashcanhands, The Race of Standing Still, and The End of This World. Each song is only accented by dark and emotional tracks such as Witchunter and FJL. The versatility showcases Zao's musical dexterity, and good sense of perspective. Zao sets themselves apart from a genre stocked with rehash copycats, and this release only widens that gap. It is encouraging to see a band take risks and the result is a disk that stands up to repeated listening. So don't listen to all those kids out there who are disallusioned with Zao because they don't seem "Christian." Have any of these pre-pubescent brats read Lamentations or Job? So they don't sound like The Supertones. I am one who is thanking God for that. Do yourself a favor and get this cd, and make sure to see Zao when they come around on tour. Their live is nothing short of total intensity."

(Self Titled Tears it up)

Dave | Washington, USA | 03/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest," along with "Liberate Te Ex Inferis." I think that "Self-Titled," covers those two albums and surpasses them. There is so much more diversity on this album. Every Song I like. The hard songs just get harder. Such as "Trash Can Hands." The first song "Five Year Winter," just jumps out the box. The lyrics are more personal towards fans and so forth on this album. So don't listen to the negative reviews, those people don't know what they're talking about. Just buy it and find out. The main reason the cd is more diverse is because Zao thought it would probably be their last album. So whatever expectations you have, through them away, because your about to get turned upside down. This album is very good vocally, production wise, lyrically and so is album art. So add it to your music collection."

Judge musicians on music, not on their personal life

Johnny Appleseed | 07/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The main topic I tend to see when people discuss Zao is the topic of their beliefs. Not being a religious person, I pride myself in having an open mind, and I am also proud to say I love this band and this album. Am I the only one who isn't so shallow and can look past who these men are in their private lives, and respect them for making good music and good art? No matter what you believe yourself, you should be able to enjoy this album. It's not like they are Stryper-inspired and trying to push the Bible down your throat.

On to the album itself...

The main thing shining on this album is its variety. The contrasts between heavy, destroying songs and melodic, instrumental pieces is executed perfectly. The group's ability to perform this all-around task shows that they are musicians and artists as well. I like the death metal style vocals, like in the first few tracks, better than those in tracks like "FJL", which reminds me of the Deftones' Chino Moreno singing a ballad. The vocals in "The End Of His World" sound like a cheesy nu metal song in the verses, but in the choruses redeem themselves. The drum sound has a processed, almost drum machine feel to it, which I would not normally enjoy, but it is unique in this music, and actually works.

Overall, any open-minded heavy music fan should see the originality in this recording and at least give it a try. And for the sake of whatever you choose to worship, if anything at all, keep your personal beliefs personal, and allow others to do the same, and you will see that you can enjoy many more things in life, such as the music of Zao."

Search - Zao :: (Self-Titled)

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews

	Zao (Self-Titled) Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock, Metal, Christian & Gospel Track Listings (10) - Disc #1 5 Year Winter Alive Is Dead (Instrumental) A Tool To Scream Witchunter Trashcanhands The Race Of Standing Still FJL (Instrumental) The End Of His World The Dreams That Don't Come True At Zero (Simeon Simmons)
3 Larger Image