Everything 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 thoughtful beast; breaking up the percussive riffs and hardcore melodies is a heavenly acoustic bit and a concluding track of emotional piano. "Ravage Ritual" begins with a moving spoken word part that sounds like the narration to Terminator:
I remember the first war
the way the sky burned
the faces of angels destroyed
I saw a third of heaven's legion banished
and the creation of hell
I stood with my brothers
and watched Lucifer fall...
but now, my brothers are not my brothers....
As good as this is, it still bears the curse of most bands along the spectrum from hardcore to metal: it gets old quickly. Zao has proved their ability to bring mellower moments to the table and to experiment with new sounds, but that only raises the standard higher for them. The next album will be eagerly awaited to see if they can crank up the atmospherics and song variety enough to keep the listener's fascination going to the end of the album.
4 tocks
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…Similar sounding releases
2004ComityThe Deus Ex-Machina As a Forgotten Genius (Andy Warhol Sucks)
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2003Bleeding ThroughThis Is Love, This Is Murderous
2005UnearthOur Days of Eulogy
1999Society's FinestPrivate Conflicts and Suicides
2002Norma JeanBless the Martyr and Kiss the ChildMore from Zao
2001(Self-Titled)
1995The Tie That Binds
1997The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation
2004The Funeral of God
2002Parade of Chaos
1998Split EP
