Tag: ZAO

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. -Matthew 28:6

Hailing from the tri-state area of West Virginia/Pennsylvania/Ohio,this metalcore band only released one cassette demo and one split CD with emocore band Pensive. What is interesting about that split–that is, besides being a spectacular release from two very good and rather unique bands–is that both bands featured members that would soon after go on to join the more well-known Zao. Pensive featured Brett Detar and Martin Lunn, as well as other members who joined Detar’s later band The Juliana Theory. Seasons in the Field featured Russ Cogdell on guitar, and future Zao screamer Dan Weyandt.… Continued →

This absolutely insane new song from the band Islander featuring a line up that’ll make you drool over, just hit in lyric video form. Not only that but the entire new Islander album released on Friday to much surprise and it hits HARD. Check out the song “Skin Crawl” featuring Brian Head Welch of Korn, Dan from ZAO, and Bruce from Living Sacrifice on really heavy new song that mixes a combination of genres and styles into a chaotic yet somehow melodic, set of songs. Islander “It’s Not Easy Being Human” is out now on all digital networks.… Continued →

Both ZAO and UnoriginalVinyl are dropping some hints at more ZAO vinyl to come. Could “Liberate Te Ex Inferis” be the next Vinyl (re)pressing? Follow ZAO here and UnoriginalVinyl here.… Continued →

Steadfast Records are releasing a couple of early early ZAO albums with some songs not heard before. This is the early lineup pre-Dan. Check out a song titled “Conflict” right here. Pre-order this release right here via the band and more info found at the link.… Continued →

Zao had already made a name for themselves, working up from the underground, with a 7″, cassette demo(s) and 2 full-lengths. They were quickly becoming known for taking hardcore in a new direction. I remember a friend telling me that although he loved the riffs on their sophomore effort Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation, he also found them really hard to dance to. With the third album, they would push the metallic limits of hardcore even further. From those opening riffs you knew this was going to be something special.… Continued →

Few Left Standing were a pioneering Spirit Filled Hardcore act along with other greats as Unashamed, Overcome, and Zao to name a few....

ZAO is reissuing their classic mid 90’s debut “All Else Failed” with new mastering job and redone artwork, through Steadfast Records. Steadfast Records is owned and run by Matt Traxler who is a former member of Six Feet Deep, Brandtson, and a ton of other bands over the years. The label has had a resurgence of sorts and has been re-releasing their old albums in Digital format and now physical media. Pre-order this ZAO album in a few different bundles right here. [Thanks Seth D.]… Continued →

Zao is quite the story. They began 24 years ago and are still kicking, releasing music. And it should be said that they’re not just still kicking, they’re bashing the doors in and reminding their fans that there is more to metal than repeated breakdowns and over-produced, cookie-cutter nonsense. Returning with “Pyrrhic Victory,” a five track EP, Zao holds nothing back. It’s five songs of relentless screams from Daniel Weydant, and riffs and riffs and riffs. There’s something special and simple of this type of release.… Continued →

Zao has announced that they have a new EP coming out here soon, and is available for pre-order now. The EP is titled Pyrrhic Victory, which has 5 new songs.

1. Drifting Shadows in Walking Dreams
2. Gifts of Flower and Stone
3. Clawing, Clawing, Never Cutting Through
4. The Host Has Bared Its Teeth
5. Feed It Pain

The EP is said to arrive on or around November 3rd, if you pre-order. The album will also be released on November 3rd digitally, on CD, and three variants of vinyl.… Continued →

Yep, the list you’ve all been waiting for (not really) is finally here. Feel free to offer up some laughs and critical remarks for the music I listened to the most 20 years ago. You’ll notice a heavy T&N presence and I just couldn’t help myself. There were a lot of albums and releases I found myself spinning back then and still getting plays today. I think that’s where this list falls in place, it’s the albums that had the longest lasting impact with me and had a catchy sound that I just couldn’t get enough of.… Continued →

Check out this review of ISF's debut EP, "Feel. Kill. Conceal. Reveal."

The incredibly talented heavy music band, To Live As Sons, have released their brand new lyric video for the song “Get The Horizon”. Watch it/listen below. Featuring a couple ex-members of ZAO and playing an aggressively heavy blend of hardcore. Call it Spirit Filled Hardcore 2017, yep.… Continued →

You'd be surprised how many bands go unnoticed.

To Live As Sons, the new spirit filled hardcore band from Pennsylvania, has announced a new track titled “Get the Horizon” being released on Friends Volume 3. The band consists of two former members of ZAO, original vocalist Eric Reeder and original bassist Mic Cox. The band has released an EP through ZAP Records, titled beaten.broken.alive. … Continued →

Steadfast Records has returned and with that comeback is the announcement that the first 2 releases by ZAO (before they signed with Solid State) have been re-released. That’s right kiddos, get “All Else Failed” (original version), and the ZAO/Outcast “Split” on all digital networks. Listen on Spotify below. Steadfast Records was the work of Matt Traxler, a member of legendary groups like Six Feet Deep, and Brandtson before those amazing bands broke up. My hope is for a Brandtson reunion. Can’t wait for the “Radiowaves and Other Gibberish” Compilation to get the re-release treatment … Continued →

Indie Vision Music and ZAP Records are proud to bring you an exclusive LIVE STREAM from the band To Live As Sons on May 23rd at 7:30pm EST. Find out more info on the band and this upcoming “show”, below. To Live As Sons are an aggressive spirit-filled hardcore band featuring two former members of ZAO (early days). The group recently released their debut 3 song ep through ZAP Records back in January. Listen below. … Continued →

Well it’s been awhile since I’ve wrote one of these. So I hope you all enjoy and I hope you check these amazing bands out! Go headbang! 10. Every Knee Shall Bow Every Knee Shall Bow is a death metal band that started in 2002, with brothers Drew and DJ Wibblesman, but didn’t get going until 2008, when their two younger brothers came of age: Cole and Shane. Two years later, the band hired their friend Chris Hull and recorded an EP titled Weary Warriors.… Continued →

As reported by ThePRP.com, ZAO will be releasing a special craft beer through Louisville, KY. brewery Against the Grain. This special blend of beer is being named “Burned at the Stake” and is taken from a lyric off their most recent album “The Well Intentioned Virus. Read more at the link above. [Thanks Stephen Young for the news submission]… Continued →

The Christian hardcore band, Me and the Trinity have announced they are reuniting for a show in February. Me and the Trinity has announced they are playing Aura Fest with bands such as ZAO, Unearth, Oh Sleeper, He Is Legend, and Artifex Pereo. The band formed in 2010 but broke up in 2015. They released three EPs and a single studio album titled The Beginning. The End. The Time in Between. All of their releases are available at Bandcamp. … Continued →

Read this interview with Joshua Ashworth of Society's Finest

Here's a little list of some of my favorite releases this year. Check them out!

Read this review of Zao's The Well-Intentioned Virus

PA Metalcore act Zao are at it again. With their 11th album, The Well-Intentioned Virus to be released on December 9, 2016, the band has decided to give everyone a preview of the album. The album can be streamed here. The band has been hyping this album up since 2014 or so. The band even released some music in 2015. The Xenophobe EP is available for purchase below. … Continued →

New band To Live As Sons(featuring ex-members of early ZAO) have cut a distro deal with new label, ZAP Records. Look for a debut full length in 2017. For now, download the band’s debut EP right here on bandcamp. … Continued →

Brand new spirit filled hardcore band, To Live As Sons, have released their debut ep “Beaten.Broken.Alive” for $5 on bandcamp here. Featuring a few ex-members of ZAO (early years).… Continued →

Introducing a new band to you today. They are called To Live As Sons and feature a few former members from ZAO’s “The Splinter Shards the Birth Of Separation” (and before) era. They play a fiery blend of Spirit Filled Hardcore meant to get your adrenaline pumping and your fists in the air. This is some of the most solid independent hardcore I’ve heard in recent years and I encourage you to check them out. Listen to their new songs, below. Look for their debut ep soon.… Continued →

ZAO are back with a punishing, terrorizing new song to remind you why they are one of the best long running metalcore bands still at it today. The song is titled “Observed/Observer” and is off the album “The Well Intentioned Virus” due out December 9th. Pre-order here and here.… Continued →