Hardcore music at an extreme level. This, the second album from the West Virginia quartet, comes off their debut release All Else Failed. Now on Tooth & Nail records they are still shredding, the new album is somewhat different than the old, it's pure unmatched power. By far, in my opinion, the best hardcore/metal album of the year. Taking nothing away from the first album (it's a hardcore listener's dream) but The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation is borderline metal. With some remakes of old songs such as: "Exchange," "In Loving Kindness," "Endure" and "Resistance," this band has really grown and the experience shows. Honestly, when I first heard the album, I thought, "the band has gotten a new drummer". I actually snapped up the case and checked the insert. Well let me ease your mind, they haven't. I don't know what came over Jesse (the drummer), but the double bass sections are tremendously powerful. Each remake is ten times as powerful as the initial ("Exchange"-the middle section), ("In Loving Kindness"-the harmonics rule & the slow heavy ending).
The new songs don't seem to be as hardcore sounding as before, but more metal and hard-hardcore. Such is the case with "Repressed", the fifth song. As a metal/death fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the song. From drums to guitars this song is primarily death with hardcore vocals. What a combination, you will be amazed. Just wait till the end of the song "Repressed". UHHH! All of this plus a chilling closer, "Song 1", you had better have a seat for the ending lyrics and the way it's brought to your heart.
9.5/10
Other Staff Member Ratings
Scum: 6.5/10
D_Lister: 7/10
HadeSlayeR: 9/10
dEaDsMilE: 10/10
Grindboy: 7.5/10
Fletch: 8/10
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse November 1997Reviewed by Dave ListerFeaturing hardcore music at an extreme level, this is the second album from the West Virginia quartet, Zao. The new album is somewhat different than the old (All Else Failed), packed with pure power-certainly one of the best hardcore efforts to come out this year. This album begins to explore some metal aspects in the music, while still maintaining a strong hardcore edge all the way through. With…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Tony LaFianzaThis music is so brutal I thought my head would collapse like a soda can in the hands of John Jacob's Power Team! After I cleaned up the blood, I felt sorry for lead singer Shawn Jonas' tonsils; I'm sure they wanted to pack their bags and live on the streets of Baltimore rather than be treated like that! Mic Cox is the bass player, Roy Goudy plays guitars and Jesse Smith is the drummer and wrote…Similar sounding releases
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