The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here
Encyclopedia
The Fear is What Keeps Us Here is the eighth full length album by metalcore
band Zao. It was released on June 13, 2006 on Ferret Records in the US and on June 12, 2006 in Europe. The album showcases the addition of drummer Jeff Gretz and bassist Martin Lunn. In interviews Gretz jokingly claimed it would be titled The George Lucas
Neckfat
.
. The album deals with more obscure/varied subject matter. Topics throughout the album include death and loss of everything you have (Everything You Love Will Soon Fly Away), Politics (American Sheets on the Deathbed, Kingdom of Thieves), frustration with false interpretations of the bands purpose (It's Hard Not to Shake With a Gun in Your Mouth), That we cant do it all alone (Physician Heal Thyself), American priorities (Pudgy Young Blondes With Lobotomy Eyes) and zombies (My Love, My Love [We've Come Back From the Dead]). The band says the underlying theme is "loss of control."
's live to analog-tape production (with no computer "fixing") and the band's decision to track all of the drums, bass and guitar live lends an accurate representation of the band's live sound. Even Weyandt's vocals are given the same treatment as he sang with a hand-held microphone through an amplifier to simulate an over-driven P.A. at a small club show. Instead of adding the progressive elements that were introduced on the album The Funeral of God
, it takes a somewhat raw, black metal
sound.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band Zao. It was released on June 13, 2006 on Ferret Records in the US and on June 12, 2006 in Europe. The album showcases the addition of drummer Jeff Gretz and bassist Martin Lunn. In interviews Gretz jokingly claimed it would be titled The George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
Neckfat
Goitre
A goitre or goiter , is a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx...
.
Album note
The album was released in two versions. The limited edition deluxe edition contains expanded artwork and a bonus "making the album" DVD. Both versions contain the same music. Some pre-ordered copies of the album came with a separate sheet of paper with easier-to-read lyrics for each song.Concept
There is no strict concept to the album, as on The Funeral of GodThe Funeral of God
The Funeral of God is the seventh full-length album by metalcore band Zao. Released on July 13, 2004 on Ferret Records and on July 12, 2004 on Roadrunner and Ferret Records . Saw the return of guitarist, Russ Cogdell, and the addition of bassist Shawn Koschik and drummer Stephen Peck after the...
. The album deals with more obscure/varied subject matter. Topics throughout the album include death and loss of everything you have (Everything You Love Will Soon Fly Away), Politics (American Sheets on the Deathbed, Kingdom of Thieves), frustration with false interpretations of the bands purpose (It's Hard Not to Shake With a Gun in Your Mouth), That we cant do it all alone (Physician Heal Thyself), American priorities (Pudgy Young Blondes With Lobotomy Eyes) and zombies (My Love, My Love [We've Come Back From the Dead]). The band says the underlying theme is "loss of control."
Sound
It's been called the most abrasive Zao record to date. Steve AlbiniSteve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
's live to analog-tape production (with no computer "fixing") and the band's decision to track all of the drums, bass and guitar live lends an accurate representation of the band's live sound. Even Weyandt's vocals are given the same treatment as he sang with a hand-held microphone through an amplifier to simulate an over-driven P.A. at a small club show. Instead of adding the progressive elements that were introduced on the album The Funeral of God
The Funeral of God
The Funeral of God is the seventh full-length album by metalcore band Zao. Released on July 13, 2004 on Ferret Records and on July 12, 2004 on Roadrunner and Ferret Records . Saw the return of guitarist, Russ Cogdell, and the addition of bassist Shawn Koschik and drummer Stephen Peck after the...
, it takes a somewhat raw, black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
sound.
Track listing
- "Cancer Eater" – 2:39
- "Physician Heal Thyself" – 3:56
- "Everything You Love Will Soon Fly Away" – 3:07
- "It's Hard Not to Shake With a Gun in Your Mouth" – 3:53
- "Kingdom of Thieves" – 3:23
- "Killing Time 'Til it's Time to Die" – 3:02
- "There Is No Such Thing as Paranoia" – 3:06
- "Pudgy Young Blondes with Lobotomy Eyes" – 3:56
- "My Love, My Love (We've Come Back from the Dead)" – 2:48
- "American Sheets on the Deathbed" – 2:47
- "A Last Time for Everything" – 5:15
- "Black Coffee" - 4:20 (Japanese Edition)
Credits
- Dan Weyandt - Vocals
- Scott Mellinger - Guitar/Vocals
- Martin Lunn - Bass/Vocals
- Jeff GretzJeff GretzJeff Gretz is an American drummer known as a member of the bands Zao, Emanuel And The Fear and Conelrad. He also has toured with From Autumn To Ashes. Gretz was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and received a BA in Music Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania...
- Drums - Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
- Recording Engineer