Zao — The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation cover

Zao

Item: The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation
Author: Dave Lister

The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation

(1997)

Reviewed by Dave Lister

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Label Solid State Records / Tooth & Nail RecordsThe LighthouseNovember 1997

death metal hardcore metalcore

Featuring 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 some remakes of songs from the first album (including "Exchange," "In Loving Kindness," "Endure," and "Resistance"), this project simply goes to show how much the band has grown-these remakes are incredible. The power behind these songs is greatly intensified, making each one a full-on blast to listen to. The new songs are where the band tends to go into the metal scene. This is not to take away from them at all-these are superb songs that will blow you away with the musicianship displayed on them.

Stemming mostly from the fact that half of this album is remakes of the original album, the lyrics are very much similar to the ones from All Else Failed. Even with the new songs, the listener is dealt a fistful of hardcore that is packed with in-your-face honesty. Zao's songs glorify God and praise the name of Jesus Christ. This band is so in love with their Creator, it is unreal-listening to this album could bring you to your knees in praise one minute, and have you wanting to clear a mosh pit the next. There are not a lot of "issue" songs here, but rather informative, evangelistic-type songs, and many songs of praise in the brutal music sense.

All in all, this is a hardcore fan's dream album. If you are into Six Feet Deep, Strongarm, or any other Christian hardcore band, and have not heard this album, you're really missing out.