Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. You have to be kidding me right? You have to be kidding me, right? You have to be kidding me, NO!! There is only one way to describe the new ZAO album, satan destroying. Oh yeah, that's right, a step back for the secular world and a step up for us Christians. You just have to go out and buy the new ZAO, find it, pay whatever, I'm drooling here!!!!! They aren't the same, much heavier and you should hear the vocals, not deathmetal, not hardcore, kinda like a metal/hardcore/death vocal style. The music is better than I have ever heard. I got this demo from a band that I really like that I heard a long time ago at the Bingy in mo-town, who are playing at Ozzfest, and I have been listening to it for a couple of days and really liking it a lot. I don't ever want to stop listening to it. This new ZAO is completely what I have been asking for in a Christian band for some time now. The complete package, sound, fury, production, and praise. The lyrics aren't as praising as before but O'my the music is killing me. Don't worry they are still Christian, but with a vocalist change comes new approaches to the lyrics. They are really good though, I must admit.
I really can honestly say that the new ZAO is better than any other album that I have heard in the past year, and that includes all secular music and even the Reborn album from Living Sacrifice. This album surpasses all of my tests of an album: in production, quality, musical talent, and then general groove. The music is not only very powerful, but it also is of a higher standard than I'm used to in Christian music. I'm not completely putting other bands down but let's face it, put this album up to the Chalice/Set Apart album and well, you know what I mean. Finally someone is taking the necessary steps to upgrade the general levels of Christian music. Praise God for giving ZAO the talent and vision to do such a product. I'm telling you now fellow Christians, look out. The secular world is going to be "feeling it" over this one. It's just that good. They can't complain that it doesn't sound good, or the quality of it isn't that good, or the power isn't that good, yada yada yada yada. God has taken this album under complete advisement and made it sooooooo good. Yes, you must give the credit to God first, then ZAO, and not in any other order. I'm sure the band will tell you the same thing.
As for the music, all of the songs are on a whole new level. Granted, the music isn't as challenging as some of the previous albums, but the whole sound and feel of it surpasses the old stuff. Actually, I have learned that it's harder to come up with an album like this one than to play the "fastest, most technical" riffs possible. I believe this one came from the heart. "A Fall Farewell" is very beautifully written and comes across to me in a way that I would like to remember my grandfather (who recently passed away). This song brings the reality that a person has to ask for forgiveness in order to be saved, and asks the question, "did your friend ask for forgiveness to God before he/she died?" Very brutal, not only in music but in lyrics, to the point. The first song "Lies of Serpents, a River of Tears", frankly put, crushes all evil. This song, from the onset, signifies the new turns taken by the band with getting new members, and I feel as if they put this one first just to not only turn heads, but to snap necks!! "The Latter Rain" shows that ZAO is still not afraid to preach about God in their songs and I'm very glad that they still promote such songwriting. Then you have "Violet", the last song on the album. I don't know about you guys, but this song was very moving for me. No this song is not heavy, in one way shape or form, but it shows off a beautiful PIANO piece, yes piano piece, and then ends with this killer heart beat in the background. I just love it.
All in all, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest gives example to ZAO's relentless struggle to increase the level at which Christian music is being viewed by music lovers. I ask God to take these musicians under his guidance, because I believe that this album is going to bring much bigger challenges to each of them. Like I said before, "wait till the secular world gets a load of this", I just hope and pray that they will not fall to the temptations of this world. Give thanks.
10/10
Other coverage for this album
Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by John SantDifferent. That is the easiest way to explain Blood and Fire. With almost an entirely new lineup, Zao's sound has changed along with the new members, bringing a completely new sound. The only remaining member of the old Zao is Jesse Smith, still pounding away on the drums. Forget everything you knew about Zao, because this disc will blow you away. Those who liked the old Zao and the speed will be…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Joe RockstrohIf you can hear, then you don't want to buy this record. Why will you lose your sense of hearing? Because you'll have turned the volume up too loud! Why will the volume be so high? Because this is one rocking record! Let me sing the praises of Zao. The vocals are excellent--very scary and mostly unintelligible throughout the album. The new lead singer's range is quite good, even if he…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Josh SpencerEverything you've heard about this project is true. Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest demolishes the previous incarnation of Zao in every way. Forget their past albums; they don't matter. This is a study in well-produced texture--the texture of pleasantly gurgling saliva in black metal vocals, the texture of grinding distortion flowing from vibrating guitar strings. The new Zao is a slower, more…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by Hey YouI'm not going to describe this album very much because that's done for you in the following reviews better than i could ever do. However, this review is for those who haven't heard this album before. There are 2 types of people in this category: 1. Those who have heard the new stuff and like it 2. Those who heard the new stuff and hate it and don't know how Zao can be as popular as they are For…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by ScumBrutal noise with a thick overlay of darkened chaos and a powerful declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. Zao's new album Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest is by far their most powerful effort to date. With a driving low end and melodically discordant highs you are taken through an unforgettable journey once you hit 'play' on this album. It is very difficult to take this CD from my player, it's also…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by MuchATTENTION HARDCORE LOATHING METAL SLAVES: REJOICE!! This is not the past ZAO that compelled you to stuff your elongated mane into your ears. It's Metal! Raspy and cruel. Yes, there are hints of distinct hXc flavor, but they are subtle, mainly brought upon by the high tuned guitar overtones. An abundance of harmonic squeals as well, marked by KORN, FORCED ENTRY, and MACHINE HEAD. The main reason I…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by dEaDsMilEThis album can be received in two different ways. You might be disappointed because this sounds nothing like the same old ZAO you have been loving all this time and say, "this is awesome but it just isn't ZAO." Or you might be amazed that the new lineup came together and wrote these killer songs and say "IT KICKS!!! THIS IS ZAO!" Daniel Weyandt's vocals are on the black metal side, along the…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by sykoboyIf metal has been dead, then ZAO's latest release Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest brings metal back from the dead! Following much of the musical impetus of their previous album The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation, this new album takes their metalcore sound to an entirely different level. From the vocals to the riffs, this album contains far more aspects of metal than hardcore. Perhaps the…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by thOrNAnother fine release from the Solid State camp. From the first slam of the drums to the last piano note this one hooked me. I've waited for an album this good for quite some time. With the last Living Sacrifice I wondered how new metal would hold up and this has stretched boundaries in this genre as well as this particular band. While the first album was very metal-core this new one is straight…Similar sounding releases
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1999Society's FinestPrivate Conflicts and Suicides
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1995The Tie That Binds
2001(Self-Titled)
2003Legendary
1999Liberate Te Ex Inferis
1997The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation
1998Split EP
