Zao (American band)

Zao
Members Russ Cogdell (left) and Dan Weyandt performing in Karlsruhe, Germany (September 10, 2004).
Background information
Origin	Parkersburg, West Virginia, US
Genres	Metalcore
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Ferret, Solid State, Steadfast, Tooth & Nail, Broken Circles
Associated acts	The Juliana Theory, Jade Meridian, Seasons in the Field, Gods, Pensive, Lonely Ghost Parade, Society's Finest
Website	zaoonline.net
Members	Daniel Weyandt Scott Mellinger Martin Lunn Russ Cogdell Jeff Gretz
Past members	Eric Reeder Roy Goudy Mic Cox Jesse Smith Shawn Jonas Ron Gray Kevin Moran Brett Detar Rob Horner Shawn Koschik Stephen Peck

Zao (/ˈzeɪ.oʊ/) is an American metalcore band from Parkersburg, West Virginia. Founded in March 1993, Zao has hosted several musicians and endured numerous roster changes to the point where no original members remain. Former drummer Jesse Smith, singer Daniel Weyandt, and guitarists Scott Mellinger and Russ Cogdell are seen by most fans as the "core" of Zao.

For a time, the band featured Christian themes in their music and was regarded as a Christian band, however this theme was eventually met with debate among the members and the band currently no longer considers themselves a "Christian band".

To date, Zao has released ten full-length albums, four EPs, a two-disc DVD documentary and multiple concert tours, garnering a limited but global fanbase and earning critical praise in the process.

The founding members of Zao, were vocalist Eric Reeder, guitarist Roy Goudy, bassist Mic Cox, and drummer Jesse Smith. The band's name comes from the Greek word (ζάω), which means "alive" or "to have life". Zao vocalist Eric Reeder has been credited with coming up with the band's name. Calling their sound "Christ-centered hardcore", they sought to reach an audience that they felt has been pushed away from the organized church. Most of their early songs, which appeared on their first two full-length albums, All Else Failed and The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation (which saw the band re-recording much of the All Else Failed material), contained explicit references to God and centered on the theme of the peace of God. Reeder (who appeared on Zao's Author and Sustained demos, as well as a split with Outcast) left before Zao recorded All Else Failed and was replaced by Shawn Jonas, who went on to form Symphony in Peril. Jonas left the band after recording two albums and is now a youth pastor at New Life Church in West Virginia; original bassist Mic Cox left the band, and Kevin Moran took his place. Ron Gray also joined the band as a second guitarist after the recording of The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation. All of the band members, except for drummer Jesse Smith, quit Zao following the 1997 Cornerstone festival and a couple of shows they played on the way back home.