At 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 and mentally with the vulnerably brazen Liberate Te Ex Inferis, Dan completes his duplicitous gauntlet by turning in the most triumphant vocal tracks and moving words in ZAO history. Range. Inflection. Absolute control.
His (e)masculating voice winds through the impassive musical burrowing of Jesse Smith and crew -- who wear their wizened years on frantic search for an elusive third dimension of rock-roll, which they find time and time again in confident submission to preconceived digression. 'Balance' would be a word to describe the songs, and the album as a whole. Ying yellow to black Yang to pinky Yong.
Beginning with "5 Year Winter" and sweeping into neo-classical (metal) instrumental "Alive is Dead," which drifts back from hazy delirium into the sentient madness of "A Tool to Scream," and then on and on into wave after wave of living tension, tenderness undercuts fury, and elephantine roar waxes terrifying and scared -- conflicted, healing, wanting, possessing, spanning, insulating -- every manic thought encapsulated into the groaning of spirit on Spirit's carrying breath.
There is really no way of knowing what the next leg of ZAO will bring us, but if it bears even no fruit at all (which is highly unlikely) Self-Titled will have been left with us as a pure, majestic form of transcendence very rare in modern rock -- timelessness.
Other coverage for this album
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…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by FletchThis 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…Similar sounding releases
1999ExtolMesmerized
1997Screams of ChaosGenetic War
2005Living SacrificeIn Memoriam
1999Eternal DecisionGhost in the Machine
1994GodfleshSelfless
2002Acoustic TormentSchwarzwaldMore from Zao
1996Treadwater...
2002Parade of Chaos
1999Liberate Te Ex Inferis
2004The Funeral of God
1996All Else Failed
1997The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation
