After releasing a string of genre-defining classics from the mid ’90s to the early 2000s, West Virginian metallic hardcore act Zao had endured several different lineup changes, eventually culminating in the loss of their final remaining original member, Jesse Smith. Yet where other bands would call it quits, Zao decided to reconvene with a new lineup and record their most ambitious album yet, The Funeral of God.
A concept record telling the story of an apocalyptic world abandoned by God, Funeral marked the begin of a new era for Zao. Though originally a Christian hardcore band, they would gradually move in a more secular direction beginning with Funeral and would also begin incorporating more melody, with a greater emphasis on clean vocals. Tracks like opener “Breath of the Black Muse” and “Truly, Truly, This Is The End,” perfectly showcase the band’s new ear for catchy, clean hooks while ragers like “The Last Song from Zion” and fan favorite “The Rising End (The First Prophecy)” give the hardcore kids some pummeling breakdowns to throw down to. The epic, 8 minute closer “Psalm of the City of the Dead,” might just be the strongest closing track in any Zao album too, as it brings the album’s story to a close with a haunting male/female vocal duet. The Funeral of God proves that even a band with no original members could create material that both honors the work of their predecessors while expanding their sound into exciting new horizons. A metalcore classic if ever there was one.
