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JFH Music Review




Zao
Where Blood & Fire Bring Rest



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 39 minutes, 59 seconds
Street Date: May 26, 1998


So begins the second era of Zao. They opened up 1998 with a new lineup, a new style, and a new message. Drummer Jesse Smith took over the band after original members Shawn Jonas, Mic Cox, and Roy Goudy stepped down the previous year. From that point onward, the message of the band became more about the band members being alive because of their faith in God. Daniel Weyandt and guitarist Russ Cogdell from the Greensburg, Pennsylvania band Seasons In The Field, as well as Brett Detar of The Juliana Theory were brought in to record this dark new chapter. Many have proclaimed this album is the reason hardcore metal is what it is to this day. Bands such as Underoath, As I Lay Dying, Sinai Beach, and Killswitch Engage would not be where they are if it were not for Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest.

Dan's screaming voice is dead-on perfect on every song and fans of Haste The Day will notice where Jimmy Ryan got his influences from. Russ and Brett offer much heavier guitar riffs that completely blow away what the original lineup created. As far as the Christian message is concerned, the spiritual side of the songs has been toned down a lot for this release. A few of the songs deal with the death of loved ones who were very close to Weyandt. The lyrics from "To Think Of You Is To Treasure An Absent Memory" were written as a memorial for his stepbrother's best friend Robbie Spade, who at the time had committed suicide, "When you shut your eyes and fell asleep, Dark clouds descended on the souls of the ones who held you close to their hearts."

Finding guidance from the Lord of Lords appears throughout many of songs, including "March," but Zao never refers to Jesus by name, "A single quiet voice and the breath of His words consumed the night and brought strength I have never felt on my own, He held me up until I could walk again and promised to stay by my side forever." "Violet" is a beautiful instrumental track recorded with a piano and it closes up the album on a positive high note. If I had anything to complain about on this release, though, it would have to be the song "For A Fair Desire." Lyrically, there is a passion behind the song but musically it does not hold up well with the rest of the album. The track probably would have worked well with the Training For Utopia Split EP that Zao recorded later on that year.

Other than that, Where Blood & Fire Bring Rest is a beautiful transition for Zao. The songs are a bit shorter compared to The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation, but the album holds up on its own as one of the best hardcore metal albums of all time. Fans who love some of today's metal, such as Haste The Day, As I Lay Dying, and Underoath, need to do themselves a favor and pick up this album. There is a lot to like here for fans of the original lineup, but don't expect an openly Christian message on this release. The music of Zao is not for everyone. It is only for those who truly love their metal hard and very heavy.

- Review date: 12/24/08, written by Fred Keel of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Solid State Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 39 minutes, 59 seconds
. Street Date: May 26, 1998
. Buy It: Amazon.com
  1. Lies of Serpents, a River of Tears
  2. To Think of You is to Treasure
  3. A Fall Farewell
  4. March
  5. Ember
  6. Ravage Ritual
  7. Fifteen Rhema
  8. For a Fair Desire
  9. The Taller Rain
  10. Violet

 

 

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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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