Zao news and notes

In order to get everyone up to speed on recent developments within the band, Zao manager Ryan Downey recently conducted an interview with the band. Amongst the information divulged comes news that guitarist Russ Cogdell is now active in the group again following a hiatus. Commented Cogdell: "I didn't want to quit the band by any means. There just wasn't anyway that I could continue to go on tour after injuring my knee on Warped Tour. I wanted to take some time off also because it wasn't fair to my new wife at the time to be gone for an extended period of time. Zao toured with In Flames, Trivium, and some other bands and they made a record in Chicago. I just basically took the time off. It wasn't like I 'quit' it just wasn't right for me at the time to be out on the road on tour." Meanwhile, drummer Jeff Gretz has amicably left the band due to a "difference in attitude and goals." Former The Juliana Theory drummer Josh Walters has been tapped to replace him. Finally, Zao has fulfilled its two-album contract with Ferret Music and is currently unsigned. The full interview can be viewed here.