1. an American metalcore ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists called ZAO:
1. an American metalcore band
2. a French zeuhl band
3. a Congolese zouk singer
1) Zao (pronounced /ˈzeɪ.oʊ/) is a band from Greensburg, Pennsylvania and are considered one of the founding metalcore groups. However they began in 1993 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, playing a style of metalcore similar to bands such as Earth Crisis and Snapcase. Zao has hosted several musicians and endured numerous roster changes to the point where no original members remain, often marked by the departure and readmission of multiple members. The band's catalog is often divided into two distinct eras, marked by a drastic shift in members that led to an equally drastic shift in sound. Most noticeably of these changes was the shift from vocalist Shaun Jonas who later formed Symphony in Peril to current front-man Dan Weyandt. Throughout the years, Zao has hosted many notable musicians such as guitarist Brett Detar of The Juliana Theory fame and current drummer Jeff Gretz who briefly played for From Autumn to Ashes. In the eyes of many fans, the "core" of Zao's sound was best exemplified by drummer Jesse Smith, guitarists Russ Cogdell and Scott Mellinger(formerly of Creation is Crucifixion), and vocalist Dan Weyandt. The current lineup is comprised of Russ, Scott, Dan, Jeff, and bass player and long time friend of the band, Martin Lunn.
To date, Zao has completed ten full-length albums, three EPs, a two-disc DVD documentary and multiple concert tours, garnering a limited but global fanbase and earning critical praise in the process.
2) ZAO was a French Zeuhl band, an early Magma offshoot founded by two ex-members of Magma: Yochk'o Seffer (saxophone, clarinet) and François Cahen (piano). They were active from 1971 to 1994 and released six studio albums. In 1976, Magma violinist Didier Lockwood also joined the band and appeared on their albums Kawana and Live!.
If one regards MAGMA as the central trunk of the Zeuhl tree, ZAO would be equivalent to an early side branch very close to the trunk. ZAO’s music, at least at the beginning of their career, is therefore an extension of MAGMA’s first era, with a light music, at times weird, with hints of jazz, contemporaneous music, Hungarian folk (Yochk’o is a native of Hungary) and obviously of Zeuhl. Nothing in common with the absolute incantatory power of “MDK” and “Kohntarkhosz” to which Yochk’o Seffer and François Cahen didn’t want to contribute.
On the first album, "Z = 7L" (1973), the very complex melodic instrumental layers are enriched with the wonderful voice of Mauricia Platon (with its Kobaïan accents), but unfortunately she was missing on the follow-up "Osiris" released in 1975.
ZAO will then break from its Zeuhl roots and the music will lean towards some jazz-rock fusion more and more debatable and debated.
"Shekina" (1975) augmented by the presence of a string quartet and "Kawana" (1976) remain respected albums of the French jazz-rock fusion scene but "Typhareth" (1976) recorded just after Yochk'o Seffer left the band is regarded as less successful. ZAO will then split but the members will gather anew in 1994 with the release of "Akhenaton" (once more jazz-fusion inflected), the album that saw the band reform but without any follow-up. It seems that the band planned to reform this year (2004) with the return of Yochk'o Seffer. To be continued ?
3) Zao (born as Casimir Zoba on 24 March 1953 in Brazzaville) is a Congolese Zouk singer, whose work is characterized by lyrics concerning taboo subjects in Congolese society with a humorous tone. He is most known for his 1984 song "Ancien combattant". "ZAO" stands for "Zéro-Admis-Omniprésent" (zero, allowed, omnipresent).
Apocalypse
Zao Lyrics
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A force so obscene
Your efforts to save us end in vain
At the balance we arrive
The weak are sacrificed
You kill them as they sleep
And watch the others weep
You do as you're told
You kill so carelessly
The road to your perfect world is paved
On suffering and unmarked mass graves
Signal the apocalypse
(They) command
(And) conjure it
Conjure the apocalypse
I scream as life crumbles down around me
A force so obscene
Your efforts to save us end in vain
The lyrics to Zao's song "Apocalypse" delve into the themes of despair, power dynamics, and the destructive nature of humanity. The singer begins by expressing their anguish as their life falls apart, highlighting the overwhelming and shocking force of their circumstances. They then speak directly to someone in a position of authority or power, accusing them of attempting to save others but ultimately failing. The lyrics suggest that the actions taken by this authority figure only result in more suffering and loss.
The second verse deepens the critique by highlighting the sacrifice of the weak and defenseless. The singer accuses this person of killing them while they sleep, devoid of any conscience or compassion. Through this imagery, the song illustrates the callous and heartless nature of those in power, who are willing to do whatever is necessary to maintain control. The lyrics also emphasize the isolation and obedience of this authority figure, as they do as they are told without questioning their actions.
The chorus of the song takes a broader perspective, suggesting that the pursuit of a utopian world by those in power is built upon the suffering and death of others. The line "signal the apocalypse" serves as a call to action, which can be interpreted as a call to expose the destructive intentions of those in control.
Overall, "Apocalypse" by Zao is a critical examination of power dynamics, highlighting the devastating effects of those in authority who prioritize their own vision of a perfect world over the well-being of others.
Line by Line Meaning
I scream as life crumbles down around me
In the midst of chaos and destruction, I express my deep distress and fear
A force so obscene
This destructive power is horrifyingly grotesque and repulsive
Your efforts to save us end in vain
Your attempts to rescue and protect us ultimately prove futile
At the balance we arrive
We reach a crucial point where a decision must be made
The weak are sacrificed
Those who are vulnerable and defenseless are offered as sacrifices
You kill them as they sleep
You cause their demise while they are unaware and vulnerable
And watch the others weep
Observing the sorrow and grief of the remaining individuals
All alone
In isolation and solitude
You do as you're told
You obediently follow instructions
You kill so carelessly
You take lives without any consideration or regard
The road to your perfect world is paved
The path towards your idealized society is constructed
On suffering and unmarked mass graves
Built upon immense pain and hidden burial sites for the deceased
Signal the apocalypse
Indicate and initiate the catastrophic event
(They) command
They possess authoritative power and control
(And) conjure it
They summon and bring forth the apocalypse
Conjure the apocalypse
Evoke and manifest the world-ending catastrophe
I scream as life crumbles down around me
Once again, I express my horror and distress as existence collapses in my surroundings
A force so obscene
This unimaginably horrendous power
Your efforts to save us end in vain
Your endeavors to rescue us have no fruitful outcome
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Weyandt, Scott Mellinger, Jeffrey Gretz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind