Crash's Band Spotlight - 25 JUN 2009
ZAO
Now, I know a lot of you out there don't like the whole christian/metalcore scene, but please understand that this was part of my growing up. I played in a metalcore band (slightly christian infulenced) in high school and still love some of the classic bands. That being said, here goes.
Zao is probably the most important band as far as bringing metal into the christian mainstream, but also deserves credit for being arguably the single biggest influence on the metalcore/ post-hardcore scene of the early 2000's. Recording on dirty tracks and coming from humble beginnings, Zao crafted a style of hardcore punk/post-hardocre music that transformed the way heavy music was seen in the late nineties. Recordings like 1996's 'All Else Failed" and 1997's 'The Slinter Shards The Birth of Separation' opened new doors into realms previously unknown. Allowing post-hardcore to bridge with some new type of metal that featured not only slow crunching riffs, distorted basslines, and growling vocals; but added heavily christian influenced vocals and sound clips reminiscent of White Zombie. This instantly gained Zao a cult following and inspired copy-cat bands that remain countless to this day. While the band shows they take influence in bands like Carcass and Earth Crisis, Zao twists and turns whatever influence they may have taken into something completely unique and edgy. While the band early recordings are rare and didn't recieve much public acclaim, their early live performances remain legendary amongst the underground scene in which they flourished from around 1995 until 1999-2000.
The band received their first semi-big hit record with 1999's Liberate Te Ex Infernis (Save Yourself From Hell). Zao has remained zigilant into the late 2000's, changing band members many times but never sacrificing their beliefs, creative and religious alike, and maintaining a solid following to this day. Zao is truly a staple of modern metal/metalcore music and is largely responsible for igniting a new scene in the underground. Below I have included recommended albums, videos, and a short intro to Zao compilation. Thank you for reading and hope you enjoy.
Album Recommendations:
All Else Failed (1996)
Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest (1998)
Liberate Te Ex Ifernis (1999)
Parade of Chaos (2002)
The Funeral of God (2004)
Some footage of a very underground show (circa 1998). Enjoy.
A song from 'Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest' - Ravage Ritual
Link to the
Crash Course Of Zao:
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