Zao - The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here
www.zaoonline.com
www.ferretstyle.com


The almighty Zao have returned.

This may be their best work since the self-titled record, or to other extents and the more cynical, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest and I happy to say that these metalcore stalwarts still have it. This is much less of a record than it is a full out assault on the senses.

This is not the same Zao from past few releases. Sure, The Funeral of God was a concept record, and with losing members left and right, major injuries on tour (see Russ and his knee problems, Danny and an incident involving him breaking his hand), and just things that seem to make most bands break up, Zao continues on.

This is the rawest I have heard the now 4-piece in years. The sound engineering of Steve Albini brought out an aggression and fervor not heard from this band in many years. While the songs may have been lyrically inspired from icons like Hunter S Thompson, they seem to be more reflective, yet questioning at the same time. This record deals with paradoxes more than anything else. Have you ever taken the time out to think if you were a doctor, and you could heal everyone else, and not be able to heal yourself? The whole concept of healing, and being able to make sense of chaos is the biggest theme in this record.

The way it sounds, like I said, was raw. From the more up-tempo drums, the riffing and quick changes by Scott Mellinger, and Dan Weyandts vocals seem like he let the demon out completely, and even when the clean singing parts are here (but sparse in the whole record), they are not over the top, and sound just subdued enough to make the record keep its less than over polished sheen out there for your ears to enjoy. Its faster, heavier, and a lot less hardcore oriented this time around. You have been warned.

9/10