ZAO have lined up a handful
of tour dates for July, which are expected to be their final ones (but then
again you never know with these guys). The string of dates will begin with the
Cornerstone Fest, and end with Furnace Fest. No word yet on if more dates will
be added, but here's what we know:
7/4 Bushnell IL @ Cornerstone
7/8 Pittsburgh PA @ Club Laga w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/9 Detroit MI @ Shelter w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/10 Cleveland OH @ Agora w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/11 Indianapolis IN @ Emerson Theater w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/12 Chicago IL @ Fireside Bowl w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/13 Des Moines IA @ Hairy Mary's w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/22 Seattle WA @ Graceland w/ Underoath, Unearth
7/26 Goleta CA @ Living Room w/ Killswitch Engage, Unearth
7/27 Anaheim CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Killswitch Engage, Unearth
7/28 San Diego CA @ The Scene w/ Killswitch Engage, Unearth
7/29 Mesa AZ @ Nile Theater w/ Killswitch Engage, Unearth
8/1 Birmingham AL @ Furnace Fest (source: LAMBGOAT)
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Zao - A Parade of Chaos
Brief review, track listing, summary, etc:
1.) The Buzzing - Brief and fairly straightforward. Old school metal riff,
superb guitar mix. Not too much involved in the song dynamic but a solid song.
Good opener. Not as strong as "Lies of Serpents..." but still a damn
good opener
2.) Suspend Suspension - You've heard it. Personally, I dig it. All the
complaints about there being no "breakdowns" or whatever in it are
asinine. I won't even dignify the complaint that metal/hardcore/whatever
requires a breakdown. Good, solid song.
3.) Parade of Chaos - Fast, old school metal riff. Dan's voice, again, kicks
ass. The breakdown (yeah, Hatebreed disciples, there's a breakdown) kicks ass.
Balls out, kill yourself in the pit goodness.
4.) Angel Without Wings - Not good. Just not good. Pop gone metal, but not as
well as it should have. Too damn repetitive and frankly, not all that
interesting to begin with. Yeah, Dan can sing surprisingly well, but who cares
after you hear the same chorus so many times?
5.) Killing Cupid - Another good song. Interesting writing, very much outside
the typical Zao style, which is great. Fast pace leads into another absolutely
superb breakdown. Dan's doubled up vocals are that frightening, intense
presence of Blood and Fire and the style of the split EP.
6.) Free the Three - Chances are, you've heard this one as well. I love the
song. Zao gets political. Where's Zach, eh? Good track, great dynamics, strong
finish. Well done.
7.) Man in the Womb - Jesse sings again. Less of a ballad, more of a rock
song. Something that might make Chino nod his head from the White Pony era.
Atmospheric and moody. "So come on and spread your Gospel..." Good
stuff and great noise/abstract sounds at the end.
8.) A Pirate's Prayer - I guess some of you have heard this. Solid, beat the
crap out of everything song. Song title aside, the song has a balls out heavy
breakdown, weird ass underwater sequence and Dan doing some new stuff with his
voice/delivery of lyrics. I dig it. A lot.
9.) The Ballad of Buddy Bigsby - Wait for the tough little hardcore kids'
reaction to this one. "Ewww, Zao has a techno track on their album. How
fucking lame is that?" to which I'd say, "Fuck all of you. Go listen
to that piece of crap Hatebreed album." The only instrumental of the
album, "The Ballad" is a well done send up of a number of
electronica artists. Staticky samples, a grinding bass and distinct feel.
Great transitional piece for the album closer.
10.) How Are the Weak Free - Melancholy guitars slide in and out as Dan does
spoken word. Transitions into wonderfully emotional riff, Dan's vocals again
fitting in perfectly. Changes into a distant, spacey feeling drum/riff combo
and ends.
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So. Good, good CD. Dan's vocals are superb, absolutely perfect, everything
you've wanted to hear. The intensity and style of Blood and Fire with the
dynamics of Self Titled. His singing has improved greatly, too. Jesse's
drumming, surprisingly, is somewhat non-descript. There isn't anything in the
CD that makes you say, "Damn, that's Jesse," but it isn't bad
either. It fits the music well, but doesn't stand out. Guitars/riffs are great
for the most part, except someone needs to tell Scott to cut the fucking metal
solos. Let Living Sacrifice do those.
Anyway. That's the brief review. I'll probably change this a bit in the next
few days, but there's your track-by-track preview.
Peace. (source: FINE PRINT MAGAZINE)
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