Different. 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 in for a shock. The music is decidedly metal. No more raging punkcore beats of the old Zao; those seem to be gone forever. Replacing them is a slow, thundering display of metalcore at it's finest. There are still songs that are based off speed, such as the third track "A Fall Farewell." It doesn't sound like the old Zao, but speed is present. Every song is laden with hooks and breakdowns, keeping the album interesting all throughout.
Lyrically, the words have changed from the militant Christian lyrics of The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation to the more poetic writings of frontman Dan Weyandt, both of which praise God but in different fashions. Also, Weyandt, Blood and Fire's new vocalist, is so far removed from Shawn Jonas' style of screaming that there's no comparison. While most people who've heard the album love his shrill scream, there are those who have dubbed the new Zao "screech-core." Either way, his voice demands your attention. Solid State said it best when they described his voice as sounding like "a giant lizard with an attitude."
Production is top of the line, with Barry Poynter and Bruce Fitzhugh producing the album. Both of the guitars are distinguishable from one another, with one often going down the scale while the other climbs it. The bass is faint compared to Zao's previous album The Splinter Shards, but carries enough weight to fill out the low end. Jesse Smith's drums are close to perfect, save for the small detail of his cymbals being almost non-existent. With that minor point aside, everything else is exactly how you'd want it. Barry Poynter is steadily making a name for himself by doing some of the best production you can find on the market today.
This album deserves a good four stars. It doesn't reach the five-star mark because the songs aren't quite complete. Zao is definitely on to something insanely brutal, but they still need a bit more refinement before earning five stars. Songs seem to wander at times, dribbling off to an ending instead of truly being finished. Still, each and every one is unique and innovative in its own right. As far as metalcore goes today, Zao would be a good addition to your collection.
4/5
Other coverage for this album
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…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by thOrNAnother 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…Similar sounding releases
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