Zao - All Else Failed (1995)Release ID: 1816
Beginning humble and continuing as legends, Zao has been known as known as a true developer of Christian metalcore. The humble beginning comes from 1995 debut All Else Failed. Back then, their lead vocalist was Shawn Jonas, who would later form Symphony in Peril. He replaced original vocalist Eric Reeder who wrote most of the album's lyrics but left before recording. Jonas, along with Roy Goudy (guitars), Mic Cox (bass), and Jesse Smith (drums), changed the scene of Christian hardcore by adding more punk and metal elements. The lyrics are more straight in the search of lost truth. Though a bit of a dud, All Else Failed is where Zao's enjoyable history begins...
I was hoping to find a lot to enjoy from their debut, considering how much I love the 3 albums after this. I can especially give a thumbs-up to The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation, the first album I've listened to from this band, with brilliant highlights including a few songs re-recorded. Sadly, as cohesive as All Else Failed is, it doesn't reach that solid mark. Don't get me wrong though. Smith's drumming is the cold hard key to the band's earlier sound. Cox's bass is audible though a little more effect-laden than necessary. Goudy's guitars are performed with heart and soul, and so are the screaming vocals of Jonas in full power that's worth praising. The music is filled with intense emotion! But the production is very much subpar compared to other albums like Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest, while being satisfying nonetheless.
"Resistance" has some of the best vocals here, along with early metalcore riffing that can serve as a basis for bands like Haste the Day. And another standout is "In Loving Kindness", having a short bass section before some of the best rapid drumming found in 90s metalcore. There are great lyrics in "Endure" telling about the surviving truth of Christianity, "It has been proven, It shall remain, This faith has stood the test, It persists through conflict, Through the revolts against its ways, Nothing has held true like this."
"Growing In Grace" goes on in good pace, but then it abruptly stops for an ambient bass. It's almost like interrupting a rollercoaster ride while still on top. Within the weakness though, some strong light shines in the acoustic outro. One of the best moments in the album, though in a song that I would never consider a highlight. "Foresight" displays some of the band's Christian influences as much as Embodyment, though much different from that band in style. "PS 77" is a hard-hitting early metallic hardcore gem. The title must be referring to a public school one of the band members went to. "Exchange" is not highly different, but it shows Zao's creativity.
Another favorite, "In These Times of Silence" shows how much this band can achieved in American hardcore. However, that song and the simpler "A Simple Reminder" do not appear in the album's 2003 re-recording. The 12-minute title epic is the longest track by the band, and one of the longest metalcore epics I've ever encountered. They unleash everything that they can in the first 8 minutes, then after a one-minute break, a 3-minute acoustic ending plays, along with a bit of clean vocals. Epic!
I had to be realistic when considering how much praise I'm comfortable giving this band's debut. All Else Failed set the right path for the band's mighty metalcore sound, and for Jesse Smith to keep going after the original members quit. But with all that said, it's not as strong their next album and the Dan Weyandt era, while not too bad at all....
Favorites: "Resistance", "In Loving Kindness", "PS 77", "In These Times of Silence", "All Else Failed"
