Zao The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here
Ferret Records F968-2 June 13th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Heres my ranking of Zaos discography, from best to worst, excluding their Split EP with Training for Utopia (1998) and their best-of compilation Legendary (2003):
Liberate Te Ex Inferis (Save Yourself from Hell) (1999)
Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest (1998)
Parade of Chaos (2002)
The Funeral of God (2004)
Zao (2001)
The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here (2006)
The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation (1997)
All Else Failed (1996)
The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is an unremarkable Zao album. In fact, I expected a lot more after the triumphant return that was The Funeral of God. Though Ive never subscribed to the belief that Zao are classifiable simply as metalcore, I will admit that for the eager fanatic this is a rather ho-hum affair, especially when examined alongside many of their past efforts.
First, Steve Albini recorded the album, and Zao produced it. The production values are fair, but I dont like them. The 38-minute recording is dense, thankfully, yet it also sounds cloudy and muddy considering the sizeable budget that the quartet ostensibly had at their disposal. Second, and most importantly, a large chunk of The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is uninteresting. High points include the extremely foreboding and groove-heavy Physician Heal Thyself, the boot-to-the-face Kingdom of Thieves, the shape-shifting Pudgy Young Blondes with Lobotomy Eyes, and the epic A Last Time for Everything. A couple of songs recall Parade of Chaos. My Love, My Love (Weve Come Back from the Dead) parallels the groan-worthy Angel Without Wings, whereas the heavily manipulated A Last Time for Everything is similar to A Pirates Prayer. The other tracks arent terrible; theyre just forgettable. Dan Weyandts vocals are still sick beyond belief, but feel subdued on this outing. The clean vocals shared by Mellinger (guitar) and Lunn (bass) are of the everyman variety, if not too unpolished to warrant inclusion. Nonetheless, Gretz proves constantly that hes the best drummer Zaos ever had the pleasure of working with. Of note is the special edition packaging, which is ingenious at a base level. Admittedly, however, its difficult to read the liner notes and the making-of DVD is mildly entertaining despite its predictable, run-of-the-mill nature.
All in all, this is not the follow-up I was expecting, nor anticipating. The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here, if pitted against several members of the Zao back catalog, is trumped easily. As long as their line-up and unity as a band remain steadfast, though, Im hoping theyll be able to address the insufficiencies. Theyve been down and out before, and risen to the occasion.
5.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Zao Website
Official Ferret Records Website
Ferret Records F968-2 June 13th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Heres my ranking of Zaos discography, from best to worst, excluding their Split EP with Training for Utopia (1998) and their best-of compilation Legendary (2003):
Liberate Te Ex Inferis (Save Yourself from Hell) (1999)
Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest (1998)
Parade of Chaos (2002)
The Funeral of God (2004)
Zao (2001)
The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here (2006)
The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation (1997)
All Else Failed (1996)
The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is an unremarkable Zao album. In fact, I expected a lot more after the triumphant return that was The Funeral of God. Though Ive never subscribed to the belief that Zao are classifiable simply as metalcore, I will admit that for the eager fanatic this is a rather ho-hum affair, especially when examined alongside many of their past efforts.
First, Steve Albini recorded the album, and Zao produced it. The production values are fair, but I dont like them. The 38-minute recording is dense, thankfully, yet it also sounds cloudy and muddy considering the sizeable budget that the quartet ostensibly had at their disposal. Second, and most importantly, a large chunk of The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is uninteresting. High points include the extremely foreboding and groove-heavy Physician Heal Thyself, the boot-to-the-face Kingdom of Thieves, the shape-shifting Pudgy Young Blondes with Lobotomy Eyes, and the epic A Last Time for Everything. A couple of songs recall Parade of Chaos. My Love, My Love (Weve Come Back from the Dead) parallels the groan-worthy Angel Without Wings, whereas the heavily manipulated A Last Time for Everything is similar to A Pirates Prayer. The other tracks arent terrible; theyre just forgettable. Dan Weyandts vocals are still sick beyond belief, but feel subdued on this outing. The clean vocals shared by Mellinger (guitar) and Lunn (bass) are of the everyman variety, if not too unpolished to warrant inclusion. Nonetheless, Gretz proves constantly that hes the best drummer Zaos ever had the pleasure of working with. Of note is the special edition packaging, which is ingenious at a base level. Admittedly, however, its difficult to read the liner notes and the making-of DVD is mildly entertaining despite its predictable, run-of-the-mill nature.
All in all, this is not the follow-up I was expecting, nor anticipating. The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here, if pitted against several members of the Zao back catalog, is trumped easily. As long as their line-up and unity as a band remain steadfast, though, Im hoping theyll be able to address the insufficiencies. Theyve been down and out before, and risen to the occasion.
5.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Zao Website
Official Ferret Records Website
