NewsJune 27, 2012 12:34 PM ET7,901 views

Zao co-founder returns with new band

Official press release: Jesse Smith, founding member of the seminal Christian metalcore band Zao, has returned from an eight year musical hiatus with a fresh new perspective and entirely new musical endeavor. Smith's new solo project, Jesse Smith & the Holy Ghost, is a very personal project for Smith, who walked away from the band he founded in 2004 in order to deal with his struggles with addiction and remove himself from the negativity that plagued the band. "I had big time things I've had to deal with and get a grip on," Smith said. "It's easier to be angry and aggressive when you're younger." Instead, Smith let his emotions be his guide for his new self-titled release, and channeled them into a more modern-sounding version of classic rock. The music is distinctly different from what Smith has been known for and longtime fans might be surprised to hear Smith's latest offering. "I just love music," said Smith. "I am living in the now. If music is from the right place and from the heart, it is always legitimate." For the recording, Smith recruited longtime friend/musician/producer Matt Holmes. "I think people are going to connect to his openness," Holmes said. "There is a new level of confidence in him that is apparent in these tunes. I think longtime fans of his work are going to see a side of him they've never seen."

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anonymous 6/27/2012 9:42:21 AM

Not that Zao was good, but he was the worst part about that band. Who fcking uses electronic drums on a metal record? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck

jacob 6/27/2012 9:44:47 AM

every band that uses triggers

anonymous 6/27/2012 9:50:31 AM

A new levellllllllll. Of confidence.

john_doe 6/27/2012 9:52:52 AM

will this result in more chain smoking and diet coke?

anonymous 6/27/2012 9:56:38 AM

BURN IT DOWN AND WALK AWAY

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:01:07 AM

metrosexuals are stoked.

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:07:21 AM

Who. The hair between the cracks of my ass sound more familiar then this

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:07:23 AM

every band that uses triggers The man fcking used Roland VDrums.

Stupid_News_Poster 6/27/2012 10:26:46 AM

Why is this news? No one gives a shit about classic rock on here...well, at least I don't.

LoydChristmas 6/27/2012 10:34:56 AM

good for him for growing up.

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:35:22 AM

jacob,if you knew anything at all about the process of recording drums you'd know that triggers only insure that every hit upon the drum head is at one "consistant volume"-instead of being a fcking troll upon a music messageboard... you dumb fcking c*nt.

jacob 6/27/2012 10:36:03 AM

cry about it in lambgoat news comments

jacob 6/27/2012 10:36:37 AM

if you knew anything about midi controllers you would shut up already

jacob 6/27/2012 10:36:49 AM

+1

jacob 6/27/2012 10:39:05 AM

also, ensure*

jacob 6/27/2012 10:40:47 AM

pew pew pew

ShaolinLambKiller 6/27/2012 10:41:52 AM

Jacob is right. anon has no clue what he is talking about... that constant volume you are talking about is a goddamn sample you stupid fck

HarryPOTter 6/27/2012 10:44:41 AM

who uses RolandVdrums anymore hashaha i like to record drums with POTs and pans !!

HarryPOTter 6/27/2012 10:44:54 AM

jacob -1

anonymous 6/27/2012 11:39:54 AM

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anonymous 6/27/2012 12:05:30 PM

Everyone knows that Jesse got booted from Zao cause he is an jerk and Dan wouldn't return with him in the band. I love how that steaming pile of trash Gods record is not even mentioned.

anonymous 6/27/2012 12:07:35 PM

"Who fcking uses electronic drums on a metal record? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck" ...not sure if sarcastic, or actually that ignorant about most modern metal recordings...

anonymous 6/27/2012 12:10:44 PM

People who believe in JEEEEEEESSSSSSSUUUUUUUSSSS S... are stoked.

anonymous 6/27/2012 2:25:25 PM

HE RISES FROM THE DEAD.

ineedsalt 6/27/2012 2:31:39 PM

anonymous2 hours ago Everyone knows that Jesse got booted from Zao cause he is an jerk and Dan wouldn't return with him in the band. I love how that steaming pile of trash Gods record is not even mentioned. who cares what he did as a kid? he was an ass, but nobody is perfect except me. go ask your dad if he left your mud under his helmet this morning bitch t-ts

ineedsalt 6/27/2012 2:32:11 PM

oh, gods was pretty bad

anonymous 6/27/2012 3:06:48 PM

GODS was so terrible that it doesn't even have a wiki page.

Shaggy2Step 6/27/2012 3:09:22 PM

Seminal? Perhaps. stuff-filled? Absolutely!

anonymous 6/27/2012 3:32:09 PM

hardcore/ metal/ bullshit christian updates

anonymous 6/27/2012 4:04:05 PM

"escaping the negativity of that plagued the band." ...that he was the lone source of.

Smammered 6/27/2012 4:33:17 PM

God is stoked.

iwilladapt 6/27/2012 8:32:55 PM

was hoping this would be about Shawn Jonas. fck this self obsessed chain smoking idiot.

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:20:43 PM

every band that uses triggers The man fcking used Roland VDrums. Which is still more human than all of the drummers that go with sound replacement.

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:41:50 PM

YEAH..whoever said Jesse was the main source of negativity in that band, CLEARLY has no clue what they're talking about. It's farrrr deeper than that folks. Don't talk shit unless you know everything.

anonymous 6/27/2012 10:51:54 PM

buy proactive now!

anonymous 6/28/2012 7:41:42 AM

why is this news nobody cares about classic rock on here" But apparently people on this site care about the shit band circa survive. I would ask why them? they suck and are further from metal than classic rock.

anonymous 6/28/2012 8:38:48 AM

Seriously the biggest turd I've ever met. Such an arrogant guy. Have fun in Parkersburg.

anonymous 6/28/2012 9:52:45 AM

sem·i·nal [sem-uh-nl] Show IPA adjective 1.pertaining to, containing, or consisting of stuff. 2.Botany . of or pertaining to seed. 3.having possibilities of future development. 4.highly original and influencing the development of future events: a seminal artist; seminal ideas.

anonymous 6/28/2012 10:05:59 AM

This guy liked to shoot heroin with jesus.

anonymous 6/28/2012 10:45:58 AM

This is a special moment!

anonymous 6/28/2012 12:46:56 PM

that constant volume you are talking about is a goddamn sample you stupid fck... wrong fckhead-besides shouldn't you be trying to sell your lame ass crayola color by numbers artwork you fcking twat!?!? i have recorded many a time and used a trigger to keep my drum hits at one constant volume-you dumb c*nt... not a "sample" but maintaining "one constant volume"

anonymous 6/28/2012 12:54:48 PM

s.l.k. id buy a picture of your mother massaging her taco with a cheese grater if you made one...so quick to call everybody else a gay while looking himself in the eyes while looking in the mirror while applying lipstick...

anonymous 6/28/2012 1:01:05 PM

far too many "whiles" in that last post stupid pssy asses do that to me.

anonymous 6/28/2012 6:36:12 PM

"Who fcking uses electronic drums on a metal record? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck" ...not sure if sarcastic, or actually that ignorant about most modern metal recordings... The shitty ones not made at Godcity...

anonymous 6/29/2012 2:55:04 AM

OOOOOO fck WATCH OUT ETID. ANOTHER OLD AGE BAND> YOUR NOT THE ONLY ONE THATS OLD IN MUSIC. GET OUT OF warped tour YOU OLD fckS AND PLAY REAL SHOWS. AND LETS NOT PLAY IN FRONT OF 12 year old .P.S. GROW UP ETID. THANK YOU ZAO

anonymous 7/4/2012 7:44:40 PM

How has no one fcking mentioned that "Jesse Smith & the Holy Ghost" is the stupidest and most pretentiously Christian hardcore name in the entire world?

anonymous 7/6/2012 11:37:37 AM

I dont think its meant to be "pretentiously christian" you fckin prick. I hope he does well just so I can watch all you little bitches whine about it. Boofckinhoo douche bags.




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