510:
sound. The band still has the heart-felt message of all the way back when none of these guys were in the band. The message has only changed ever slightly. They sound like Zao." Michael Weaver of Jesus Freak
Hideout wrote "The album isn't marketed for a Christian audience, and while there isn't any major offensive material here, I'd still recommend that some caution be given due to the dark nature of the content. Hopefully this marks a full reunion for Zao and not just a one-off performance. Enjoy this metal gem and relish the return of Zao." while Jeremy Barnes wrote "Zao have broken a seven-year silence with another strong addition to their famed discography and have gifted the metal genre an appropriate closing note for an outstanding year." Grymm of Angry Metal Guy reports " I just hope the next album takes less than seven years, but this was well worth the wait. Highly recommended." Wookubus of Theprp stated "In a way, it’s almost fitting though as nothing about this album feels labored or sterile. Much like its namesake would suggest, there’s a vicious organic corruption here that rapidly spreads and takes over, will you be able to endure it?" Where's the Beef wrote "The Well-Intentioned Virus is a fantastic example of what an album should sound like after a long hiatus. Show the fans that you had a real reason for coming back. There are some moments that could have used a bit more polish, but I can look past them given the grade-A Kobe beef held within." Matthew Michel of Metal Utopia wrote "Zao means “alive” in Greek. The band has returned with confidence and stayed true to its name. The Well-Intentioned Virus is a contender for the best metalcore album of the year. In fact, it may help breathe new life into the hardcore scene. Suddenly, you remember the minuscule replicators dormant within your blood. The virus exults in its new-found freedom; it prepares itself and surges forward in a new effort at rebirth. It's still there, ready to break out. You're unsure of its motivation. Can you feel it? You will."
264:, similar to a majority of the band's previous songs he was involved in. The song "The Weeping Vessel" has to do with the miscarriage of the Weydant's first child. "A Well-Intentioned Virus" deals with people who thought what they were doing was right but were later looked upon as evil. "Broken Pact Blues" deals with Weydant's brother Matt breaking a suicide pact. Other tracks have to deal with mortality, false truths and fever dreams.
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is their best album in over a decade, picking up where The
Funeral of God left off in terms of quality while nailing the progression they've been pursuing since." writes Bradley Zorgdrager of Exclaim. Mason Beard of Indie Vision Music wrote "The band is still the same as ever, just back with a new
504:
wrote "Zao has undoubtedly added to their score of culturally-relevant albums with this one. With its veteran backbone, raw voice, and savage-yet-developed cacophony, it will join the ranks of their more memorable releases; it seems the passage of time has only sharpened their aptitude."
29:
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755:
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728:
252:. The album was released digitally, as well as on CD, vinyl and cassette. On December 1, 2016, the band streamed the whole album.
246:, released on December 9, 2016. The album features the first studio performance of Russ Cogdell for the first time since 2004's
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756:"ZAO Unleash "A Well-Intentioned Virus" Onto an Unsuspecting World"
36:
945:. Interviewed by Trav Turner. As The Story Grows. March 13, 2016
1230:
875:
781:"Zao release intense new video for Broken Pact Blues, Watch"
1226:
260:
Many of the lyrics have personal meaning to vocalist
1057:
Weaver, Michael; Barnes, Jeremy (December 7, 2016).
898:"ZAO Streaming "The Well-Intentioned Virus" in full"
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626:"The Sun Orbits Around Flat Earth Witch Trials"
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729:"Zao Premieres New Song, "Observed/Observer""
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1354:The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation
822:. Interviewed by Trav Turner. March 6, 2016
692:Daniel Carballal – editing, post-production
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701:Vaughan Woosley – editing, post-production
271:
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1184:"Zao – The Well-Intentioned Virus Review"
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689:Dave Cerminara – editing, post-production
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996:Zordrager, Bradley (December 7, 2016).
943:"Dan, Jeff and Scott from Zao... again"
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698:Al Torrence – editing, post-production
238:is the tenth studio album by American
1182:Michel, Matthew (December 15, 2016).
962:
960:
277:
7:
1160:. Where's The Beef. December 6, 2016
921:"Zao - 'The Well-Intentioned Virus'"
919:Lemoine, Marcus (December 9, 2016).
695:Liz Klehm – editing, post-production
1059:"Zao, "The Well-Intentioned Virus""
754:Lambert, Aaron (October 27, 2016).
1133:"Zao - The Well-Intentioned Virus"
1131:Pessina, Luca (December 6, 2016).
1110:"Zao - The Well-Intentioned Virus"
1085:"Zao - The Well-Intentioned Virus"
1029:"Zao - The Well-Intentioned Virus"
969:"Zao – The Well-Intentioned Virus"
866:Gotrich, Lars (December 1, 2016).
14:
1027:Beard, Mason (December 9, 2016).
896:Beard, Mason (December 1, 2016).
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998:"Zao The Well-Intentioned Virus"
664:Scott Mellinger – guitar, vocals
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1361:Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest
1396:The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here
816:"Dan, Jeff and Scott from Zao"
522:
1:
1108:Wookubus (December 9, 2016).
686:Dave Hidek – mixing, engineer
16:2016 studio album by Zao
174:The Well-Intentioned Virus
1537:
1516:Zao (American band) albums
1410:The Well-Intentioned Virus
1083:Grymm (December 9, 2016).
870:The Well-Intentioned Virus
670:Martin Lunn – bass, vocals
549:"A Well-Intentioned Virus"
507:The Well-Intentioned Virus
235:The Well-Intentioned Virus
210:Released: October 27, 2016
207:"A Well-Intentioned Virus"
201:Released: October 13, 2016
143:The Well-Intentioned Virus
52:December 9, 2016
22:The Well-Intentioned Virus
1264:
846:facebook.com/ZAO.Official
704:Garret Haines – mastering
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707:Ben Buckner – art layout
219:Released: June 20, 2017
192:Released: July 10, 2015
123:studio album chronology
1368:Liberate Te Ex Inferis
710:Josh Bonati – lacquers
637:"I Leave You in Peace"
1061:. Jesus Freak Hideout
683:Matt Kerley – artwork
667:Russ Cogdell – guitar
1417:The Crimson Corridor
1031:. Indie Vision Music
900:. Indie Vision Music
868:"First Listen: Zao,
538:"The Weeping Vessel"
273:Professional ratings
152:The Crimson Corridor
615:"Observed/Observer"
560:"Broken Pact Blues"
500:Danielle Martin of
371:Jesus Freak Hideout
274:
216:"Broken Pact Blues"
198:"Observed/Observer"
1427:Re-recorded albums
1389:The Funeral of God
967:Martin, Danielle.
820:As The Story Grows
735:. October 13, 2016
673:Jeff Gretz – drums
337:Indie Vision Music
272:
268:Critical reception
249:The Funeral of God
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786:Alternative Press
733:Revolver Magazine
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105:Observed/Observer
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1488:Related articles
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1460:Pyrrhic Victory
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1435:All Else Failed
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1382:Parade of Chaos
1347:All Else Failed
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1276:Scott Mellinger
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789:. June 20, 2017
779:
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760:Metal Injection
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433:Angry Metal Guy
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1445:Extended plays
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1186:. Metal Utopia
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1339:Studio albums
1337:
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1328:Shawn Koschik
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1135:. Metalitalia
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573:
571:"Jinba Ittai"
570:
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520:
514:Track listing
513:
511:
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481:
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440:
439:
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278:Review scores
276:
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51:
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38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1476:
1470:Compilations
1458:
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1415:
1409:
1408:
1401:
1394:
1387:
1380:
1373:
1366:
1359:
1352:
1345:
1331:Stephen Peck
1291:Russ Cogdell
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1268:
1213:. Retrieved
1200:
1190:December 16,
1188:. Retrieved
1164:December 12,
1162:. Retrieved
1139:December 12,
1137:. Retrieved
1126:
1116:December 12,
1114:. Retrieved
1090:December 12,
1088:. Retrieved
1065:December 12,
1063:. Retrieved
1033:. Retrieved
1007:. Retrieved
1001:
976:. Retrieved
947:. Retrieved
937:
927:December 12,
925:. Retrieved
914:
902:. Retrieved
891:
879:. Retrieved
869:
861:
849:. Retrieved
845:
836:
824:. Retrieved
819:
793:February 20,
791:. Retrieved
784:
775:
763:. Retrieved
759:
749:
737:. Retrieved
723:
677:
676:
652:
651:
582:"Apocalypse"
506:
499:
491:Metal Utopia
259:
247:
234:
233:
232:
173:
150:
142:
141:
132:
37:Studio album
1521:2016 albums
1495:Discography
1375:Self-Titled
1321:Brett Detar
1317:Kevin Moran
1311:Shawn Jonas
1307:Jesse Smith
1297:Eric Reeder
1281:Martin Lunn
1270:Dan Weyandt
1215:December 2,
1035:December 9,
1009:December 9,
978:December 7,
973:HM Magazine
949:December 2,
923:. Overblown
904:December 2,
881:December 2,
851:December 2,
826:December 2,
765:December 2,
739:December 2,
659:Dan Weyandt
593:"Xenophobe"
502:HM Magazine
475:Metalitalia
292:HM Magazine
1510:Categories
1325:Rob Horner
1286:Jeff Gretz
715:References
678:Production
56:2016-12-09
1478:Legendary
1453:Xenophobe
1300:Roy Goudy
648:Personnel
240:metalcore
187:Xenophobe
78:Metalcore
67:2015–2016
1314:Ron Gray
1210:Bandcamp
1112:. Theprp
1003:Exclaim!
661:– vocals
328:Exclaim!
111:Producer
64:Recorded
49:Released
39: by
1303:Mic Cox
170:Singles
156:(2021)
147:(2016)
138:(2009)
54: (
1403:Awake?
530:Length
441:Theprp
286:Rating
283:Source
134:Awake?
84:Length
1206:"Zao"
1158:"Zao"
842:"ZAO"
527:Title
436:4.5/5
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101:Label
73:Genre
1217:2016
1192:2016
1166:2016
1141:2016
1118:2016
1092:2016
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1037:2016
1011:2016
980:2016
951:2016
929:2016
906:2016
883:2016
853:2016
828:2016
795:2018
767:2016
741:2016
640:7:28
629:3:49
618:3:43
607:3:12
596:3:10
585:6:46
574:2:52
563:3:33
552:3:33
541:4:10
494:9/10
478:8/10
332:8/10
1258:Zao
876:NPR
653:Zao
634:10.
523:No.
486:8.7
244:Zao
121:Zao
115:Zao
42:Zao
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