Metal Review

Zao - Awake

Artist: Zao

Album: Awake

Available now on cd

Zao is one of my current favorite metal bands so I was pretty pumped to see they had a new release. For those who arent familiar with the band Zao is one of the early founders of metalcore style of music. They started off as a Christian band and now they are now just more of a lyrically positve band. This morning I finished my personal mandatory policy of listening to an album at least 3 times before writing a review. Initially I was slightly disappointed, but it didnt get better with repeat listens. Dont get me wrong they are still better than 80% of other metalcore bands out there, but this album just doesnt stand up to their own standards. I absolutely love their last two albums The Fear is What Keeps Us Here and The Funeral of God but this album is nowhere as close to being as good as them. The main problem I had were the clean vocals and emo type riffs. There was just too much of this instead of just kick ass riffs and intense vocals. Also the riffs werent as solid either. I enjoyed some of it but there just wasnt enough original to keep me satisfied.

Rating: 7.0