Zao top 10

My passion for metal music has waxed and waned over the last few years. As my musical taste has broadened to encompass more genres and artists I have found myself desiring to listen to heavy music far less. Yet there are some musical experiences and bands that leave such a profound effect that they become imprinted onto your dna. Zao are one of those bands.

Originally formed as a evangelistic hardcore band, Zao's career took an earth shattering change of direction when current vocalist and soul of the band Dan Weyandt joined in 1997 with 'Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest'. Shortly after 'where blood and fire...' Scott Mellinger joined the band as lead guitarist who soon formed a strong musical partnership with then drummer Jesse Smith and Dan Weyandt that has come to define Zao's sound even to this day. Dan Weyandt is my favourite all time metal vocalist and his poignent lyrics have profoundly impacted me.

Here is my top 10 Zao songs from their 'second era' onwards:

10. Praise the War Machine (album The Funeral of God)

9. Truly, truly this is the end (album Funeral of God)

8. 5 year Winter (album Zao)

7. It's hard not to shake with a gun in your mouth (album The Fear is what keeps us here)

6. Savannah (album Liberate te ex infernis)

5. Skin like Winter (album Liberate te ex infernis)

4. Lies of Serpents, a river of tears (album Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest)

3. Desire the End (album Liberate te ex infernis)

2. A last time for everything (album The fear is what keeps us here)

1. The Latter Rain (album Where Blood and Fire bring rest)

Unfortunately there are no videos live or album version of the Latter Rain on youtube so you will have to listen to the album 'Where Blood and Fire...' on spotify or something to hear it. The song is about the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit prophesized in the book of Joel. The song is basically in two acts, the first is sung in Dan Weyandt's extraordinary metal growls and the second is him speaking far more calmly. I love the journey the song takes the listener on and the spiritual overtones to the lyrics. It is at one and the same time an empowering song about the victory of God over evil and a lament to the spiritual blindness that shrouds modern society, hence the cry to send the Latter Rain. While not all of Zao's songs contain such a strong Biblical message to them, especially with Dan Weyandt's own changing views on faith and religion over the years nevertheless this song will forever be to me one of the greatest all time Christian metal songs.