This album was thought to be titled Alive is Dead for a while. However, it appears now that it will just be self titled. Either way, you're still in for a metal eruption. I think this album will disappoint some and enthrall others. There are many surprises. I think that this album bears more similarities to Liberate Te Ex Inferis than Liberate had with Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest.
There are many different directions that Zao took on this album. One song, FJL, sounds just like Jesse's solo project, Through the Eyes of Katelyn. Another song, Witchunter, has no singing or screaming in it, just speaking and whispering. Probably the only part I really dislike on this album is on the song The End of His World. I think Jesse helped do a little back up vocals that sound like Rage Against the Machine or something. I think it's cool that they threw in a little variation but it's really not to my liking.
On Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest there was To Think of You is to Treasure an Absent Memory. Then, on Liberate there was If These Scars Could Speak. Now, on Zao's new album they have The Race of Standing Still. It's right along the very same sound as the other two songs mentioned from previous albums. Alive is Dead is also a nice instrumental. It reminds of something that would have been in an old Nintendo game on some dark castle of the last level. The vocals also are a bit different than they have been on any previous Zao album. Dan does his regular high-pitched screaming vocals that sound to me like they consist of at least two layered tracks. Then, he also swings down low and does a deep, more death metal sounding growl. I think it's great and that it adds a lot to the album. The drums sound to have been put through a processor. They sound great but they sound like they could have been a drum machine. There also sounds like there is kind of a dark, techno type theme to the album. The other songs that haven't been mentioned up until now are Five Year Winter, A Tool to Scream, Trash Can Hands, The Dreams that Don't Come True and At Zero. They all rock hard. Five Year Winter has a breakdown at the end that will completely mess you up the first few times you hear it.
Overall, I think this album is great, possibly their best one to date. However, I doubt many others will think so. It seems as if a lot of people are still stuck on Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest. I am greatly looking forward to future Zao releases which include a split with The Juliana Theory and a track on a comp from Akeldama Records. If Zao continues in the direction they've taken over the last two albums, I can't imagine how insane they'll sound in a few years. Also, if you get a chance to see Zao live (they're supposedly going to tour with Dillinger Escape Plan), be sure not to miss them. This new album is amazing live.
9.5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #88Reviewed by Jason DoddAt press time ('cause you always should include a space-time disclaimer when you are about to reference a member of ZAO in any context), Self-Titled exists as the last vocal testament of Dan Weyandt. After challenging our ability to accept sonic change with his debut on Where Blood & Fire Brings Rest, mesmerizing and winning us over on ensuing tours, and then further challenging us spiritually…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Nate BaileyIn a genre that is full of copy cat bands that just take up space, Zao has continually moved in the direction of their choice and turned their back to the rest of the scene. This new release we see Zao adding so many new aspects to their music that you can tell without a doubt they are progressing musically. Using their trademark metal-core foundation, Zao has always been able to explode with…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by JamesOkay, first of all these guys scared me while I was driving my car in broad daylight. Now, with that said, I'm going to come clean on something. I have never been a Zao fan. But after reviewing this album, I have a much better opinion of them. It's difficult to miss the artistry on this one. The fact that this collection of tunes doesn't constantly show off the size of the drummer's calves (i.e.…Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestThe last album in their contract with Solid State Records is self-titled. Does this mean they perceive this as a new start? Or were they inspired by other bands that didn't give titles to their fourth releases (like Led Zeppelin and King's X)? I don't know. What I do know is that the first track, 5 Years Winter, sounds more metal than this band has ever sounded. But very heavy with the harsh…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Michial FarmerZao is hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the greatest things ever to hit the Christian music ghetto, but I'm having difficulty finding the appeal. To me, they sound remarkably similar to every other tortured-animal-screaming hardcore band, and the supposedly brilliant lyrics penned by frontman Dan Weyandt are lost on me because my promo copy does not include a lyric sheet. That's not to…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerZao's fifth full-length album finds them further down the path of exploration. Last time they visited the bowels of hell; now they've entered a strange new land beyond hardcore hades. It's not as abrasive and corrosive as Liberate te ex Inferis, with more atmospheric textures via acoustic guitars, whispering vocals, digitized accents on percussion, and ambient electronica sections punctuating…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by thOrNThe mighty ZAO is back. Word is that this is their final album. The end of the soap opera called ZAO is upon us. Don't get me wrong I like this band a lot, I just think it's rather funny the member changes and all. It's worse than Tourniquet. Only ZAO stayed good. Ok well on with the review. I really like this album, it's a great solid swansong. You can tell they have matured over the years. The…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by GrindboySelf-titled (even the name is catchy!) starts off with "Five Year Winter", which reminds me a little of "Savannah" from Liberate.... The song keeps moving and stays aggressive the whole way through. If the rest of the disc stayed like this I'd be one happy listener, but unfortunately it has nowhere to go but down. It picks up again for the final track "At Zero", a blistering tune that just won't…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by D_ListerDiversity is the kindest word I can come up with for this album. Yes the band is nothing if not diverse. Sometimes diversity creates good, sometimes it even creates greatness. Andy Kaufman was diverse...and many see him as a genius and others as a complete jerk. I honestly feel with this album you are going to find very similar variances. For me the diversity of this album became annoyance. CDs…Similar sounding releases
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