Some Focused and Zao merch

A Focused longsleeve...

[FRONT]

[BACK]

So crucial.

And a Zao jersey...

More Zao stuff...demos...

Check out my previous post on Zao.

Author demo tape (1994)



Sustained demo tape (1995)



Thank you Tom Bates for the rips and Mike Taylor for the scans!

Through and Through

I personally know hardly anything about Through and Through. I discovered them when I was very young and found a split that they had done with Zao. At that age, I wasn't part of a family with internet and money and all that stuff, so I didn't have many resources as to getting my hands on bands' stuff besides going to shows and some local records stores. Through and Through was a band I always kept my eyes open for, and shortly after discovering them (after they had broken up, of course), I came across three records at the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois on which I spent my only spending/food money for the week. I had found their split with Zao (check my huge post on Zao), their split with Subterfuge, and their only full length record, Joshua Aiken. The only thing I ever knew of them was that they were on Boot to Head Records, released their split with Zao on Steadfast Records, released their split with Subterfuge on Declaration Records, and were from Canada. Luckily, Boot to Head has bios on all of their past bands, and here is what they have to say about Through and Through:

"Hailing from Vanderhoof Canada, Through and Through made a name for themselves over their short existence, both in their home of Canada, and here in the States. T&T began roughly in the winter of 1995, as a typical metallic hardcore band and a four piece, and went on to refine their sound into a sweet blend of emo, insane vocal screams, and pounding metal, to create their own haunting sound. As a five piece the band was able to express their creative aptitude to the fullest of their ability.

In Fall 1998 T&T released their only full length record entitled "Joshua Aiken" and it blew people away, they seemed to come out of nowhere, but don't get me wrong though, these guys definitely weren't newcomers, they had two demos which sold well throughout Canada and the States, making it possible for them to hook up with Steadfast Records, on whom they released a split 7" record with ZAO. T&T were also been featured on many compilations across the States, and Canada and Brazil.

Having toured the States independently twice for roughly Six weeks each time (this was a tough feat for a signed band back then, let alone an independent band) the band built a loyal and steady following, but even though T&T seemed to have the world ahead of them, and just when things started to take off for them, the band called it a day in early 1999 when a few members quit to peruse other interests. "

Well, that's them. Now onto their records...

Treadwater... Split with Zao (1996 - Steadfast Records)

Joshua Aiken (1998 - Boot to Head Records)

Part One

Part Two

Split with Subterfuge (1998 - Declaration Records)

Zao

Zao is a band with A LOT of history. They have been around since 1993, and still play today, but their music has changed quite a bit over the years. I really only give a shit about Zao before 2000 came along when their sound went really weird, in my opinion. Originally from Parkersburg, West Virginia, Zao formed with only four guys playing what they considered to be "Christ-centered hardcore" for all the kids who felt like outcasts in their church. They released some demos; a full length record titled All Else Failed in 1995 (rereleased with different artwork in 1999 and 2000), The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation in 1997, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest in 1998; along with splits with Through and Through, Outcast (split rereleased in 1999), and Training for Utopia. Zao went from releasing records on Steadfast Records, to Tooth & Nail Records, to now on Ferret Records. Zao is notorious for going through tons of band lineups, as well as sounds. They began, and continued through the mid 90s, with a more straight up 90s hardcore sound, which was a pretty generic sound mixed with very emotional sounding parts and some rad heavy stuff. With new members came a more metal sound, becoming probably the definitive sound of Zao. Super sludgy, evil sounding metalcore with crazy vocals and the essential metaphorical, deep lyrics. When 2000 came along, with new members and a new sound, they changed a lot. Their brand of metalcore became more verse-chorus-verse structured, losing what I believe to be the spirituality of Zao's music. Anyway, for more info, check their MySpace or their Wikipedia page. Below I have posted all of their stuff, I've gotten my hands on over the years, including early demos, old splits, and all the old (good) full length records. In my opinion, their best stuff in on the Splinter Shards... record.

[sorry for the shitty pictures, no time to scan mine and can't find many online]

Conflict Demo (1994)

The Tie That Binds: Zao / Outcast Split (1995 - Steadfast Records)


(original 1995 pressing)


(artwork for 1999 rerelease)

All Else Failed (1995 - Steadfast Records)
Part One
Part Two


(artwork for original, 1995 release)


(artwork for 1999 re-release)


(artwork for final, 2000 re-release)

Treadwater: Zao / Through and Through Split (1996 - Steadfast Records)



The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation (1997 - Tooth & Nail Records)
Part One
Part Two



Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest (1998 - Solid State Records)



Zao / Training for Utopia Split (1998 - Solid State Records)