Daniel Weyandt

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Dan Weyandt
Zao US band.jpg
Dan Weyandt (in front) live with Zao
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Weyandt
Born (1981-05-09) May 9, 1981 (age 43)
OriginGreensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Metalcore, Christian metal (early)
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
Years active1996–present
Labels Solid State, Ferret, Deadself, Haunted, Observed/Observer

Daniel Weyandt (Born May 9, 1981) is the vocalist of the American metalcore band, Zao. He was also the bassist for Seasons in the Field and current bassist for Lonely//Ghost//Parade. Weyandt is also a tattoo artist and owns a shop in his hometown, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. [1]

Contents

History

According to Zao's DVD, The Lesser Lights of Heaven, Weyandt started his music career in 1996, with the band Seasons in the Field (previously Sower). The band included friends of Weyandt's, such as guitarist Russ Cogdell, drummer Bob Bigelow, and vocalist Jason Keener. After a while, Bigelow left and was replaced by Stephen Peck. [2] They recorded their split album, Psalms of Ariana with Pensive. Their song, "Eternity" is on the compilation album Blessed be the Killing from Deadself Records. In 1998, Seasons in the Field disbanded, and Weyandt and Cogdell joined Zao. [2] The full line-up consisted of, Jason Keener on lead vocals, Russ Cogdell on guitars, Dan Weyandt on bass and backing vocals, Stephen Peck on drums, Bob Bigelow formerly on drums, and Jeremiah Momper formerly on guitars. [3]

After Seasons in the Field broke up, Weyandt and Cogdell were recruited by drummer Jesse Smith of Zao, along with Brett Detar of Pensive (who later started The Juliana Theory), following Shawn Jonas, Roy Goudy, and Mic Cox leaving. They recorded their Zao debut, and Solid State Records debut, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest . In 1998, Zao recorded the Training for Utopia / Zao split EP with Training for Utopia. After recording the EP, Detar left, and was replaced by Scott Mellinger (formerly of Creation Is Crucifixion). Bassist Rob Horner joined soon after and they recorded Liberate Te Ex Inferis . In 2001, Cogdell left for a time and the band recorded Self-Titled . Zao "broke-up" in 2001, but later in 2002 they re-formed and recorded Parade of Chaos . In 2004, Cogdell re-joined and they started to write new music, when Jesse Smith and Rob Horner left. Former Seasons in the Field member, Stephen Peck, along with bassist Shawn Koschick joined Zao and the band recorded The Funeral of God . After this Peck and Koschick left the band and were replaced by former Pensive member Martin Lunn and Jeff Gretz of From Autumn to Ashes. On the "Under the Gun Tour" in 2006, Weyandt broke four bones in his left hand. The band had to drop off the tour, due to his injuries. [4]

This line-up recorded The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here and Awake? . After Awake? the band went on five-year unofficial hiatus. In 2010, after Zao took a five-year hiatus, Weyandt, Mellinger, Stephen Peck, and Matt Vo (of Rhetoric) started a project, named Lonely//Ghost//Parade. [5] They have released a single titled "Stand in the Fire" and a Split EP with Feral King. [6] In 2015, the band resurfaced. The bands' debut (non-split) EP, Xenophobe was released on July 10, 2015. The band released their tenth album, The Well-Intentioned Virus on December 9, 2016. On November 3, 2017, the band released their sophomore EP, Pyrrhic Victory on their label Observed/Observer. In 2021, the band released their eleventh studio album, The Crimson Corridor via Observed/Observer.

Influences

Weyandt stated the bands that got him into heavy metal and hardcore punk were Passover, a local band that gained popularity, and Overcome. [2] He states that his five most influential albums include Passover's No Retreat/Passover split, Black Flag's Damaged , Iron Monkey's self-titled, Neurosis's Through Silver in Blood , and Slayer's Seasons in the Abyss . [7]

Lyrics

Weyandt is the primary lyrical composer of Zao. The Blood & Fire songs "Lies of Serpents" and "Ravage Ritual" deal with hypocrisy in the Christian Church, while songs like "To Think of You Is to Treasure an Absent Memory" deal with the death of family and friends. [8] Songs from Liberate such as "Savannah" deals with the suicide of a woman who got in a car accident. The song "If These Scars Could Speak" deals with an ex-girlfriend of Weyandt's being assaulted by a youth pastor. Songs off the upcoming album, The Well Intentioned Virus, deal with the miscarriage of Weyandt's child, fever dreams of Weyandt's personal experience, and a broken suicide pact.

Religion

Weyandt was an outspoken Christian, [9] but in a later interview it was stated that the only Zao member with Christian beliefs was bassist Martin Lunn. [10] [11] According to Scott Mellinger, Weyandt is no longer a Christian but an agnostic but still spiritual. [12]

Bands

Current

Former

Discography

Sower

Seasons in the Field

Zao

See Zao discography

Lonely//Ghost//Parade

Guest appearances

As interviewee

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zao (American band)</span> American metalcore band

Zao is an American metalcore band founded in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and later relocated to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. 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, vocalist Dan Weyandt, and guitarists Scott Mellinger and Russ Cogdell are seen by some fans as the "core" of Zao, with the current line up being the longest running in the band's history.

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<i>Liberate Te Ex Inferis</i> 1999 studio album by Zao

Liberate Te Ex Inferis is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Zao. It is considered by many to be their most experimental and darkest album. It was released on Solid State/Tooth & Nail. With the album came the addition of bassist Rob Horner. Liberate is the first Zao album to feature Scott Mellinger, who replaced Brett Detar after his decision to pursue The Juliana Theory full-time.

<i>Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest</i> 1998 studio album by Zao

Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest is the third studio album by American metalcore band Zao on Solid State/Tooth & Nail. It was the first album to feature vocalist Dan Weyandt after the departure of Shawn Jonas along with new bassists/guitarists, Russ Cogdell and Brett Detar. The album contains a sample from the film The Shining at the end of "Lies of Serpents, A River of Tears", as well as a sample from the horror film The Prophecy during the intro to "Ravage Ritual". It is often considered among the greatest metalcore albums ever made.

<i>Self-Titled</i> (Zao album) 2001 studio album by Zao

Self-Titled is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Zao, released on February 21, 2001, by Solid State/Tooth & Nail/EMI. The entire album was written in the recording studio by Scott and Jesse. Dan would be sent the tracks to write lyrics and then recorded them. The band famously broke up on stage touring this album.

<i>Parade of Chaos</i> 2002 studio album by Zao

Parade of Chaos is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Zao. Released on July 10, 2002, by Solid State/Tooth & Nail/EMI. This album was recorded similarly to Self-Titled with Scott and Jesse writing in the studio and Dan being absent until time to record vocals. This album was also recorded at the same time as the recording of the All Else Failed reissue.

<i>All Else Failed</i> (2003 album) 2003 studio album by Zao

All Else Failed is a re-recorded album by American metalcore band Zao, released on February 19, 2003, by Solid State/Tooth & Nail/EMI. It features newly recorded versions of eight of ten tracks from their original debut album, All Else Failed (1995). The recording was done during the same session as Parade of Chaos.

<i>Legendary</i> (Zao album) 2003 greatest hits album by Zao

Legendary is the first compilation album by American metalcore band Zao. It was released on December 17, 2003, on Solid State/Tooth & Nail/EMI. It is the eighth album by the group. The last three songs are previously unreleased studio demos with Corey Darst on vocals. "The Icarus Complex" appeared on This is Solid State Vol.3.

<i>The Funeral of God</i> 2004 studio album by Zao

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<i>The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here</i> 2006 studio album by Zao

The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Zao. It was released on June 13, 2006 on Ferret Records in the US and on June 12, 2006 in Europe. The album showcases the addition of drummer Jeff Gretz and bassist Martin Lunn. In interviews Gretz jokingly claimed it would be titled "The George Lucas Neckfat".

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<i>Awake?</i> (Zao album) 2009 studio album by Zao

Awake? is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Zao. It was released on May 5, 2009, on Ferret Records. It contains nine new tracks and a re-recording of the track "Romance of the Southern Spirit", which originally appeared on the Japanese version of The Funeral of God. Only 8,000 physical copies of the album were made. Each copy is numbered and has six interchangeable covers. The album sold approximately 2,000 copies in its first week. The single "Entropica" debuted in April 2009 prior to the album's release.

<i>Xenophobe</i> (EP) 2015 EP by Zao

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Jesse Smith is an American musician, best known for his work as the original drummer of metalcore band Zao. After leaving Zao, he has had multiple other bands/projects, including Gods, My Own Halo, Jesse Smith & the Holy Ghost, and Serpent Servant Slave.

<i>The Well-Intentioned Virus</i> 2016 studio album by Zao

The Well-Intentioned Virus is the tenth studio album by American metalcore band Zao, released on December 9, 2016. The album features the first studio performance of Russ Cogdell for the first time since 2004's The Funeral of God. The album was released digitally, as well as on CD, vinyl and cassette. On December 1, 2016, the band streamed the whole album.

<i>Pyrrhic Victory</i> (EP) 2017 EP by Zao

Pyrrhic Victory is the sixth EP by American metalcore band Zao, released on November 3, 2017. It is the third release by the band on their own Observed/Observer Recordings label since their reactivation in 2015 after several years of hiatus. The songs were recorded during the same sessions that resulted in 2015's Xenophobe and 2016's The Well-Intentioned Virus. The EP in its entirety was streamed on the Metal Injection website on October 31, 2017.

<i>The Crimson Corridor</i> 2021 studio album by Zao

The Crimson Corridor is the eleventh studio album by American metalcore band Zao. The album was released on April 9, 2021, through Observed/Observer Recordings, the band's own record label.

References

  1. ↑ "Featured Tattoo Artist: Dan Weyandt". Rebel Circus. July 13, 2014. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Ryan J. Downey (2005). Zao – The Lesser Lights of Heaven.
  3. ↑ "Seasons in the Field". MusicMight. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ deathbringer (March 2006). "Zao drops off tour due to Injuries". Metal Underground. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Dan Weyandt, Scott Mellinger, Stephen Peck, and Matthew Vo, start Lonely//Ghost//Parade". Lonely Ghost Parade.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Lonely Ghost Parade". Bandcamp . Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ Pratt, Greg (April 8, 2021). "5 Heavy Albums That Changed My Life with Dan Weydant of Zao". Decibel . Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ Downey, Ryan. "Zao - Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest". AllMusic . Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Zao are Losing their religion". Exclaim! . Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  10. ↑ "The Metal Podcast Episode #38 – Zao". October 9, 2017.
  11. ↑ Scott Mellinger and Russ Cogdell (October 11, 2015). "Scott Mellinger and Russ Cogdell of Zao". Interviewed by Trav Turner and Stephen Sarro. As The Story Grows. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  12. ↑ Mellinger, Scott (July 30, 2017). "Episode 024: Neurosis with Scott Mellinger of Zao". Discussmetal.com. Interviewed by Joe; Dan; Geoff. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Watch This: "Witchhunt" by Metavari featuring Daniel Weyandt of Zao | Midwest Action!". Midwest Action!. October 18, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  14. ↑ wookubus (March 31, 2022). "Islander Release Guest Filled New Album, Share Skin Crawl Lyric Video Featuring Korn, Zao, and Living Sacrifice Members". Theprp. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Dan Weyandt's credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
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