By Vinnie Apicella

First impressions are that of a tortured soul, expressing deep feelings of remorse or despair seeking salvation from that sadistic hand of fate… What is apparent here is that there's a lot happening here to the extent of cataclysmic proportions. "Save Yourself From Hell" is an intriguing prospect… well good advice first of all, but we've got five circles or "settings" that serve as a sort of outline to the subheadings or "songs" as they fall into the corresponding themes. The music is all over the place and defies any preconceived patterns that at first might call for a Gothic/Industrial suggestion… or how about Progressive Hard-Core? While each of those elements are firmly entrenched, the music ranges from wistfully peaceful arrangements to disquieting rage and torment where turbulent rhythms and death vocals dictate the patterns as they emerge and descend on the weakening state of the listener. Comparable to a disturbing personality trait or that of a multiple personality affliction, Zao touches upon every human emotion, uncommonly distinct, incomprehensible at times and what inspires to be an unsettling attempt at spiritual bloodletting.

More from the Online Metal Journal