In a genre that is full of copy cat bands that just take up space, Zao has continually moved in the direction of their choice and turned their back to the rest of the scene. This new release we see Zao adding so many new aspects to their music that you can tell without a doubt they are progressing musically. Using their trademark metal-core foundation, Zao has always been able to explode with emotion and energy. This album contains all that, but has added a whole dimension to their sound. A lot of the songs have a mix of electronic drums (but without the cheesy Knight Rider electronic sound) and regular drums. The combination is a lethal delight. There are also several songs with acoustic guitars, which are every bit intense as Zao's hardest metal poured masterpieces. "The Dreams That Don't Come True," is both simple and complex with Dan singing softly and then building to a crescendo of double bass and a thick pounding guitar sound that makes this my favorite song on the record (the best song in my opinion). "JFL" is a song that is so gentle and soft that Jessie Smith might have wrote it as a lullaby for his young child. To sum things up, this is a great album, possibly their best. You may have heard an earlier demo floating around on the internet, but this final version with its great production is much better sounding. The artwork and layout are reason enough to buy the real deal. If you're a Zao fan, like good music, and aren't scared away by a little intensity, go pick this up.
A-
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by JamesOkay, first of all these guys scared me while I was driving my car in broad daylight. Now, with that said, I'm going to come clean on something. I have never been a Zao fan. But after reviewing this album, I have a much better opinion of them. It's difficult to miss the artistry on this one. The fact that this collection of tunes doesn't constantly show off the size of the drummer's calves (i.e.…Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestThe last album in their contract with Solid State Records is self-titled. Does this mean they perceive this as a new start? Or were they inspired by other bands that didn't give titles to their fourth releases (like Led Zeppelin and King's X)? I don't know. What I do know is that the first track, 5 Years Winter, sounds more metal than this band has ever sounded. But very heavy with the harsh…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Michial FarmerZao is hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the greatest things ever to hit the Christian music ghetto, but I'm having difficulty finding the appeal. To me, they sound remarkably similar to every other tortured-animal-screaming hardcore band, and the supposedly brilliant lyrics penned by frontman Dan Weyandt are lost on me because my promo copy does not include a lyric sheet. That's not to…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerZao's fifth full-length album finds them further down the path of exploration. Last time they visited the bowels of hell; now they've entered a strange new land beyond hardcore hades. It's not as abrasive and corrosive as Liberate te ex Inferis, with more atmospheric textures via acoustic guitars, whispering vocals, digitized accents on percussion, and ambient electronica sections punctuating…Similar sounding releases
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