At this point if you are about to get this Zao album, likely you already know who Zao is. If you are one of the rare cases of just looking for something new, you need to brush up on your metal history. Zao really paved the way for modern metalcore with their early albums, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest and Liberate te ex Inferis. Over the bands last few releases (The Fear is What Keeps Us Here, Awake?), they've gravitated to a slightly more progressive sound with sociopolitical lyrics. The Well Intentioned Virus picks up where that trend left off. The opening guitar intro of The Weeping Vessel really makes you wonder what it is you're about to listen to, but within a few moments, the main riff hits hard and heavy, and the rest of the song settles into a heavy groove intermingled with progressive elements. A Well-Intentioned Virus, Jinba Ittai, Xenophobe, and The Sun Orbits Around Flat Earth Witch Trials all follow a classic Zao trend of just being fast and heavy, fueled by solid grooves and heavy breakdowns. The monotony however, is well broken up. Broken Pact Blues is carried mostly by Scott's vocals with mellow guitar work in the background, but ends with Dan's screaming over the top of very aggressive riffing. The Haunting Pools and Observed/Observer follow a trend set by the band in the Funeral of God, with Scott's clean vocals on the chorus, however, with a production sounding more like the dark aggressiveness of The Fear...it gives the songs a bit of a haunting vibe. Apocalypse hits half way through the album, opened by Scott's dark sounding cleans, and carries a drudgey groove throughout which keeps the album at a steady pace. Finally, the album ends with I Leave You In Peace. It's heavy, it's aggressive, and yet beautifully moving. If you could imagine the songwriting prowess of Awake? being perfected, and put to the production process of The Fear is What Keeps Us Here...This may be the album you get. Listening to this album is so surreal, while it still feels like Zao, it also doesn't feel like Zao. This album shows that their songwriting is ever evolving and being perfected as the members continue to grow in the craft, not remaining stagnant like many bands their age. The Well-Intentioned Virus is easily one of Zao's best albums to date. Hello and welcome to our auction! This CD is brand new and still factory sealed. This is a North American manufactored and authorized CD (the same you would find in any store) and not a cheap knock off or pirated copy! If for any reason you are not fully satisifed with your order please let us know right away and we will make sure the problem is corrected. Thank you for looking at our auction and happy bidding.