Zao - Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest (1998)
Much in the same way that Living Sacrifice did on their "Reborn" cd Zao combines hardcore and metal to create what I like to call "the new breed of hardcore" also know as "metal-core". The guitars are thick and slamming like hardcore with start-stop segments and a ton of emotional feeling can be felt in the guitar parts alone. The guitars also incorporate "true" death metal style riffs also therefor giving this cd that "metal" feel. Vocally people keep saying that this is "black metal", well, yeah, that could be true to the extent that the vocals are death-like, high, and raspy as is the sound of most all "black" metal bands. But this is where the "black" comparison ends. The music is NOTHING like black metal but rather, as mentioned, a hybrid of death and hardcore with leanings more towards the hardcore side. The music overall is intoxicating, overwhelming and top-notch. Musically you can hear influences ranging from NYC style hardcore all the way to some Slayer like riffs! Overall this is a great cd and keeps you craving more when it ends. -- Review by Norm