I have a friend, who unlike me is a huge metal/hardcore fan. So when I told him I was reviewing the latest instalment from veteran metal band, Zao, his eyes lit up with excitement. He’d heard great things about the album, so at first, I was really motivated to review it. But as the days went on, the most I’d done was listened to it. I hadn’t written a word. When my said friend asked if I’d reviewed the album a week after receiving it, my sad reply was ‘no’. I was becoming increasingly annoyed with myself for procrastinating so much. I do listen to metal but I think my fear was that I wouldn’t do the album review justice because I wasn’t a die-hard metal fan. But the bottom line was, I really enjoyed the album and I concluded to pull my finger out and I’d like to say, though metal/hardcore isn’t the genre I favour as much as others, I enjoyed this album immensely. By the time I’d listened to it for the fourth time, I could feel my hot blood about to burst through my jugular. The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is all the passion, fury, anger and evocative allure that fuels the metal soul.
Ten years on the music scene, and Zao are still considered forerunners of the metal and hardcore genre. Their latest album, The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is a passionate proclamation as to why they are still ripping their way into the hearts of their legions of fans.
They had they honour and privilege of recording this time round with legendary producer, Steve Albini. Albini has worked with the likes of PJ Harvey, Nirvana, The Breeders and Bush, just to name a few. Work on the album took several months and the end result is further testament to both Albini and Zao’s success.
From the initial enthralling guitar echoes in the opening track, you’re lured into a hypnotizing audible surrounding, only to be thrust into the dark fury and screaming sounds that is Zao.
The album is almost lustful the in the way that every instrument is used in acute intensity.
If you want a drum solo to get your adrenalin going, I’d suggest a listen to ‘Physician Heal Thyself’. Also if you enjoyed the electricity fused 80s guitar riff on tracks like Atreyu’s ‘Right Side of the Bed’, you’ll love Zao’s ‘Killing Time ‘Til It’s Time To Die’. This was by far my favourite song on the album.
Like I said, I’m by no means die-hard metal fan, but I am a sucker for skillful guitar riffs and solos and livid but synchronized drum beats. I think that’s what fascinates me with metal; the way the fusion of opposing moods collaborate so well together. Zao stays true to this conception whilst spreading their beliefs in their music at the same time. In truth if you enjoy albums where you can derive meaning from songs, such as Hatebreed’s ‘The Rise of Brutality’, you’ll definitely dig The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here.
Their lyrics are heated and meaningful. In ‘Kingdom of Thieves’, you can’t help but grit your teeth at the heightened profundity of the words:
From the day they washed ashore /
the first brick in the foundation /
in the kingdom of thieves /
befriend and destroy /
built upon stolen land /
painted with innocent blood /
give thanks and betray them /
shove them into dark corners /
feed them the leftovers of dogs /
dig up their graves and laugh /
pick your teeth with their bones /
the fruit of the holy voyage is sour and cursed /
forced by our heroes /
to walk a trail of tears /
forced by our forefathers /
to watch our wives and children die /
in this great, honorable, holy American land /
in the kingdom of thieves /
the great American land
But the part of the album that absolutely tore into my soul and rattled it around for a while was the concluding track, ‘A Last Time For Everything’. If you want five minutes and fourteen seconds hardcore, blood-pumping music, this song is for you. In the concluding lines of the song ‘the fear is what keeps us here’, you’re mesmerized into the best album finish I’ve ever heard. You’ll have to hear it for yourself is all I can say.
