''The Funeral of God'' is the seventh studio album by American

metalcore Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use ...

band Zao. Released on July 13, 2004 through

Ferret Records Ferret Music was an American independent record label turned Warner Music Group subsidiary, founded in 1996. The label is owned by NORA's vocalist, Carl Severson, and based in West Windsor, New Jersey. Ferret recently started an imprint called ...

in the US, and on July 12, 2004 through

Roadrunner The roadrunners (genus ''Geococcyx''), also known as chaparral birds or chaparral cocks, are two species of fast-running ground cuckoos with long tails and crests. They are found in the southwestern and south-central United States and Mexico, us ...

and Ferret in Europe and Asia. It saw the return of guitarist, Russ Cogdell, and the addition of bassist Shawn Koschik and drummer Stephen Peck after the departure of Jesse Smith. A

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing devic ...

was made for the song "The Rising End (The First Prophecy)".

Title note

Originally the album was going to be called, ''Live... from the Funeral of God'', but the band's management was concerned that fans might construe that to mean it's a live recording, so the title was shortened.

Concept

The album is a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Some ...

, narrating an apocalyptic story in which

God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

, fed up with the path chosen by humanity, decides to disappear, leaving humanity to its fate. Subsequently, the world falls into a state of war and self-destruction. However, man soon reverts to a state in which he waits for God to return.

Sound

Sounding different from most albums Zao have released, this record is a swing towards bands such as

Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbanding of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and A ...

and

Shadows Fall Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1996. Although Shadows Fall has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career, Shadows Fall has been composed of Jon Donais (lead guitar, ...

. It also goes for a more melodic sound than their past albums, such as in the song "Psalm of the City of the Dead".

Track listing

Credits

ZAO *

Dan Weyandt Daniel Weyandt is the third and current vocalist of the American metalcore band, Zao. He was also the bassist for Seasons in the Field and current bassist for Lonely//Ghost//Parade. Weyandt is also a tattooer and owns a shop in his hometown, G ...

– lead vocals * Scott Mellinger – guitar, clean vocals * Russ Cogdell – guitar * Shawn Koschik – bass, additional engineering * Stephen Peck – drums Additional Musicians * Sara George – additional vocals on track 11 * Josh Momper – piano Production * Eric Rachel – producer, engineering, mixing * Alan Douches – mastering Artwork * Don and Ryan Clark ( Asterisk Studios) – art direction, design *

Kris McCaddon Kris McCaddon was the second guitarist for the metalcore band, Society's Finest and lead guitarist for Demon Hunter. He was also the vocalist for the bands Embodyment and The Famine. History McCaddon's career started in 1994 when he joined ...

– logo * Sarah Fiedler – photography * Chris Bruno – cover photo Misc. * Ryan J. Downey – manager

Quotes

* "The story is unique, the vocals are vicious, the guitars are cacophonic, and the barrage is relentless. Zao has returned with a preeminent fury and have outdone themselves once again." – Outburn (9/10) * "If the melodic end of the genre has been taken by Killswitch Engage then the extreme end of the Kingdom belongs to Zao. No question." – Metal Hammer UK (9/10)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Funeral Of God, The 2004 albums Zao (American band) albums Ferret Music albums Roadrunner Records albums Concept albums