Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Training for Utopia / Zao - The Split EP (1998)

When that YouTube commenter recommended to me some albums by Zao, one of those releases was a split between that band and Training for Utopia. The commenter especially enjoys one song from the EP that was re-recorded in their next album Liberate Te Ex Inferis, but to be honest, I didn't really like that version, I prefer the album version much more. I'll tell you what that song is soon...

Despite that, this EP is quite fun to listen to. Not only do you get to hear a little more of Zao besides the albums, but also a different band with vocalist Ryan Clark who would later form Demon Hunter and release that band's debut in 2002.

Training for Utopia would appear first in the EP with the fun opener "Modus Operandi". The aforementioned Zao song, "Skin Like Winter", I honestly think is a poorly done demo, and once again, the later album version does better justice. There should've been some proper time and budget to work on that version in my opinion. However, this is made up for by Training for Utopia's nearly 8-minute epic "Police John, Police Red". That's some of the strongest content and length I've heard from late 90s metalcore. It starts with a beautiful guitar intro complete with soft vocals, then everything gets heavier and more chaotic, leading up to an epic climax with thunderous roars of "COME ARMAGEDDON!!!" The short yet heavy Zao song "Walk On By, Walk On Me" has a bit of Clark's roars alongside the screaming of Dan Weyandt. A much better song from Zao!

All in all, the split's quality is kind of half-and-half in the songs. I think I can find the best vocals from Ryan Clark and the best drums from Jesse Smith, with the bassists and guitarists of both bands shining well. While this EP isn't at an excellent level for me, Christian metalheads who want to see both bands in a release would be like "Hallelujah!"

Favorites: "Police John, Police Red", "Walk On By, Walk On Me"