"This band seems to get a lot of criticism from the reviewers here on Amazon.com. Many seem to think that because the vocals are screamed and have a very gothic sound to them that the music can't possibly glorify God. Well, I have another view. I saw this band play in Roanoke, Virginia, in a small, smoke-filled crackhouse-type place. You know, it wasn't a friendly place. I was there with a couple friends, and there were all sorts of interesting people there. I felt somewhat intimidated by the atmosphere, and was ready for Zao to come play so I could head home. When Zao made their appearance, they came straight out and said, "We are a Christian band, and we'd love to talk to you guys about our faith." Right out, first thing. I felt so secure and happy to see a group take such a stand in what seemed a very un-Christian place. Not only that, but the dude didn't have enough money to pay these guys. So they just took the $90 and played the show anyway. Now if these guys played "evil, demonic" music, would they have said what they did and played for one-third of their price? No way. Support this band...not only are they cool guys, the music is phenomenal. Brett Detar played guitar on this CD, and he is an excellent musician...you can now hear him leading his new band, The Juliana Theory (also a 5-star release). Disregard all of the negative comments about this band...they really are on track."
Total metal birth and destruction from T&N's Solid State!
Ashley Mangham | Rome, Georgia | 11/25/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since Solid State's Living Sacrifice opened the doors to the world of metal for the label in 1997, there has been no more of a brutal metal release than Zao's "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest"! This CD not only pushes the limits, but steam rolls over them! Zao, known previously as a strictly hardcore band has exploded onto the metal scene, crossing bridges never before even explored by any band - christian or secular. The vocal stylings are the outstanding feature of the new Zao. They can only be described as a throaty scream, quite unlike anything ever attempted in this genre of music. BEWARE because these vocals may knock you off your feet because they're just that AWESOME! To compliment the new vocal style the band has written some mega in-your-face vocals. Good luck figuring them out listening to the song, but trust me, they're definately worth checking the lyric sheet for. Zao's new sound is so unparalleled that it takes some real getting used to, but after the first go-round, you'll have to pry it out of your CD player with a crowbar! You'll definately want to keep listening! Kudos to Jesse Smith, the band's only remaining original member, for keeping the heart beat of this band and bringing it to the forefront of metal! "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest" is one in-your-face CD, and my best purchase of the year - BUY IT!!"
Get over it!
Daimonas Fonias | USA | 03/16/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm sorry, but i will never understand why people who don't like metal/hXc would buy an album like this and complain that they can't understand it. With a title like "Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest," what the heck did you think it would be? In reality this is a very talented band, and if you liesten to this kind of music, like I do, they are quite simple to understand. If you want hard to understand, get the Living Sacrifice album "Nonexistent" or Spitfire's CD."
Doesn't get any better than this!
Chaos (xchaosx86@hotmail.com) | somewhere close by (don't look behind you) | 11/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is beyond any description. Arguably the best Christian metal band, Zao can't be touched with this one. Jesse Smith could not have picked a better group of guys to work with. Daniel Weyandt's vocals are serpent-like and go well with the harsh guitars and beating drums. Even the last track, Violet, a song on the keyboard shows the intensity of Zao's walk with Christ. You have to get this one if you're into Christian metal. Also look for their new one - Liberate te ex Inferis/Save Yourself From Hell (it's even better)"