Zao: Legendary - Page 3

The second problem has to do with the picks from "Blood and Fire". While their masterpiece is represented by three songs, they somehow managed to ignore the best song on the album, "To Think Of You Is To Treasure An Absent Memory", which has one of the greatest builds in a hardcore song that I've experienced. I would have gladly traded "A Fall Farewell" for it. At least they included "Ravage Ritual", the second best track on the album.

Other than that, a minor qualm is including three songs from each "{Self-Titled}" and "Parade of Chaos". Especially when my previous two complaints are taken into consideration. I don't think anyone would have been disapointed if "The Race of Standing Still" had not been included. You can even leave off "Angel Without Wings", despite it being well known, just because it's the cheesiest hardcore song ever writen.

Other than that, you can't complain at any of the picks from "Liberate", "Skin Like Winter", "Savannah", and "The Ghost Psalm". "Free The Three", the great song from "Parade of Chaos" made the cut. The great song from "Split Ep", "Walk on By, Walk on Me" is represented.

Of course, to entice the fans who already own most of Zao's albums, there are two previously unreleased tracks. Back when Corey Darst was Zao's vocalist, they recorded a few new songs with Aaron Sprinkle. Those three songs are featured here, "The Icarus Complex", "One Last Time", and "All Dressed Up (With No Place To Go)". "The Icarus Complex" was released before on the third "This Is Solid State" sampler. The other two songs are brand new, and they are good songs. I'd take them above most of the stuff on either self titled or "Parade of Chaos". Darst wasn't the greatest vocalist for Zao, however, these songs work fairly well with him.

The packaging for this album is pretty smooth. The case is a solid white (as opposed to the usual clear) with a sticker on the front and back with the band name, album title, and track listing (as well as the usual legal mumbo-jumbo). Then inside the case is an insert as usual, that features a cool graphic of a baby surrounded by lit candles. That is the best artwork I have seen come out of the one trick pony Asterik Studios. The liner notes are writen by Ryan Clark, who is best known for his involvement with Training For Utopia, but has also worked with Focus Point and Demon Hunter. Then, if you pop open the rear trey, you find that there is a rear insert, as if the case was clear, instead of white. It's got all the information as the sticker, only features artwork that matches the candle theme from the cover. So if you don't like the white look, get your own clear case and use that, instead.

Article Author: The Theory

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