Customer Reviews

Legendary

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a Zao fan for a handful of years now. I admittedly discovered them late, and didn't even like them at first (I hadn't been exposed to metal yet, and didn't have my current appreciation for the genre), but now they are easilly--and that's an understatement--one of my favorite bands, and in many cases have set the bar for quality for other bands I choose to look into. This collection is a great way to be introduced to the band, taking you through the myriad changes they made stylistically, and in terms of band members. For someone interested in buying some of their full albums, it gives you a sampling of what they contain. While the selection of songs doesn't match my personal opinion of what some of their best are, they are by no means bad songs. There are very few Zao songs that I don't fully and enthusiastically enjoy. As a side note, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter had written the memoir that comprises the insert. I'm a big Demon Hunter fan, so that was an awesome bonus, and it was very enlightening on the history of the band.

The guy that just reviewed this and said it was garbage is an idiot. I am in no way, shape or form a christian but I respect Zao for their beliefs and they are an amazing band in every incarnation no matter what your walk of life. Plus anyone who supports the freedom of the WM3 deserves a ton of kudos in my book.

The lead singer of Zao sounds like a lizard monster talking on a video game. This guy is insane: the most black of black metal vocals to Christian music. Who cares if this band left Solid State? Ferret is one of the LEADING labels in hardcore with Deathwish and Revelation(and Victory and Equal Vision every once in a while). Zao have been tearing it up for a LONG time now and I cannot WAIT for their new album: I heard it freakin KILLS!

Zao is without a doubt one of the best and most influental hardcore bands ever and thier compilation "Legendary" is a perfect addition to any metalcore/hardcore fans library of music and for fans new and old. Their isn't much to say that hasn't already been said about Zao. The album is heavy and the vocals are ferocious(no matter who is behind the mic). The tracklisting on the album overall is very good. You have the majority of their classics like "5 Year Winter," "A Fall Farewell," and "Skin Like Winter." The only track thats not here that should have been on here is "Lies Of Serpents, A Rive Of Tears" off of whats arguably their best cd "Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest." Other than that, I have no complaints. The artwork is nice and very fitting to the band and the booklet contains a lengthy writeup on Zao as well as the band history(as they have had MANY lineup changes over the years). I don't know whether or not Solid State is looking to cash in on the fact that Zao has once again reunited or not, but regardless, this is a perfect way for anyone to get pumped up for Zao's next release due out sometime this year through Ferret. If you've never heard Zao before(and I'd be shocked if you haven't) and you enjoy the likes of Norma Jean and Underoath, then you will enjoy this release. This is good for fans new and old and highly recommended.

Wow, How many times have ZAO changed? More times than I'd like to think, but have they gotten better? In my opinion, yes! Most bands these days never progress, or don't progress much. So it's nice to see a band like this leave on a high note. My only problem with this album ,and a rather evident problem. This album strays from a simple evolution set up, to a toss the track anywhere kind of album. It would have been nice to put the songs in chronological order. Enough said though , Now ZAO start a new journey as they leave Solid State for Ferret Music. So will the band once again undergo a dramatic change? Who knows. All I care about is that they continue to make great music.

Screaming vocals, brutal guitar riffs, no sign of calming down...this is Christian music? Amazing, this band is a definite to listen to, whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim or even Atheist. My favorite songs are "5 Year Winter", "Free The Three", "The Ghost Psalm", "A Fall Farewell" and "Times Of Separation". If you're a fan of these bands: Coalesce, Converge, Training For Utopia, Slayer and Superjoint Ritual, you will want this CD. You won't waste a cent.

This cd is very reasonable considering it lumps all their old best songs together onto one disk. It is a great place for new fans to start. Almost every song is worth listening to minus one or two, but since there are so many tracks it is worth it. Anyway this is a great cd to add to your collection of metal classics.

If you're a fan of this style, this is the definitive album to check out prior to their upcoming release. It doesn't have a few tracks I really dig off of their previous albums, but it is the best collection of Zao songs ever.

Definitely worth the purchase.

Not many bands have made such a lasting impact on the metalcore/hardcore scene as ZAO did. Their harsh, ferociously brutal music has effected fans worldwide for seven plus years and counting. It would only be fitting (but somewhat premature) for this band to release a greatest hits. It is more of a retrospective than a greatest hits. If you aren't familiar with ZAO'S music, you could probably listen to other bands like COALESCE, DEADGUY and CONVERGE for a hint of the type of potent brutality that ZAO has been shelling out over the years. The tortured animalistic vocals are hauntingly fierce to the point of irritation if consumed in large doses. If you can acclimate yourself with the scathing octaves (which many have the ability to do) the music that follows is brash, thrashing and sludge-like. Beyond the distortion and a handful of loops, melodies that are grounded more in rhythem transcend anything resembling tradition and this record illustrates their knack for diversity. If perhaps you haven't heard anything by these guys but always wondered who they were, pick up the "Legendary" CD. It will provide you with the tools necessary to decide if their catalog of CD's is valuable enough for a purchase.

This is a great cd, it gives you a taste of all the best of zao. They left solidstate for ferret records, and are working on what they are saying is their "best album yet,with the inspiration that caused them to pick instruments in the first place". Sadly though their drummer jesse smith has left the band, he was one of the main reasons zao was so awesome(especialy on stage),but their best singer daniel wayendt has come back,YAY! for their new album,and hopefully for good.