Another 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 up metal. I can not give this album enough praises, though I will attempt.
With Bruce Fitzhugh producing (of Living Sacrifice for those who live under a rock) and recorded at the same studio as LS Reborn (which is also where Embodyment is recording their disc.... coincidence?) the tones on this album are amazing. This is definitely one to crank. It's hard to listen at a low volume for you want to crank it and have yerself a one-man-mosh-pit (it's possible, I've done it). The guitars provided by Brett Detar and Russ Cogdell are crushing and crunchy and there is so much energy in all the playing. For you guitar buffs out there I figured that some of the album is in drop C and some in drop B, so you definitely got that deep sound too. Jesse Smith's drumming shows so brightly on this disc, I knew he was good but dang he blazes. I might go so far as to say that he can give Lance Garvin a run for his money.
Vocal wise I am in love.... well you know what I mean. I heard the vocals and Carcass came to mind, but there are more influences in there. Carcass came first to mind since I used to listen to Heartwork on a daily basis. Even some riffs remind me of those Carcass boys... Daniel Weyandt does some truly great vocals. There's some double vocal tracking which reminds me of Paramaecium a bit where one growl will end and the other overlay it. Very gritty but in no way unpleasant to the ear.
The lyrics are very poetic. I'll show some examples here from Ember
ember of Your faithfulness ember of Your still small voice ember of embracing arms ember of rebirth to You my King i offer up this ember for the wind of Your Spirit to consume by fire to purge their blood from my hands
For a Fair Desire deals with not existing for sins no matter how sweet they may be. All the lyrics are deep and from the heart. One can hear his emotion in the vocals and the love put into the words and music.
If I could I would make you go and buy this CD right now, but I guess I can't.... but it is of the utmost top quality. With so much claiming to be heavy ZAO truly delivers.
10/10
Other Staff Member Ratings
D_Lister: 9/10
Much: 8.5/10
Grindboy: 8/10
HadeSlayeR: 7.5/10
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 CeebOh 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!!!!!…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…Similar sounding releases
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