"If the melodic end of the kingdom has been taken by Killswitch Engage then the extreme end belongs to Zao. No question." -- Metal Hammer ZAO’s has spent the past 10 years at the forefront of the metal and hardcore scene. Through breakups, reformations and countless tours; the band has exposed their beliefs and their hearts to the fevered masses. The band’s newest testament, "The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here" combines the dark and creepy vibe of early albums, with the rock n' roll thunder of and the metallic fury of more recent outings.

This time around, famed recording engineer Steve Albini invited Zao to make their new album with him at his Chicago studio, and the band (all four of them longtime fans of his recordings) obliged. With an album's worth of songs fine-tuned over several months, lyrics and vocals stronger than ever, the band laid down what promises to be another landmark work: "The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here."



Many of the luminaries of today's heavy music scene are well aware of their debt to the band. Underoath and Unearth opened for Zao. Thrice and Fall Out Boy listened to Zao while growing up. As I Lay Dying invited Dan Weyandt to guest on their last album and Matt Heafy from Trivium joined the band onstage to perform "Praise The War Machine." Zao, a band whose backwoods roots have allowed them to stay one step ahead of the trends by staying true to their isolated selves.