Dan Weyandt
Dan Weyandt (in front) live with Zao
Dan Weyandt (in front) live with Zao
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Weyandt
OriginGreensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresChristian metal (early), metalcore
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
Years active1996–present
LabelsSolid State, Ferret, Deadself, Haunted, Observed/Observer

Daniel Weyandt 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]

History

According to Zao's DVD, The Lesser Lights of Heaven, Weyandt started his music career with the band Seasons in the Field with friends Guitarist Russ Cogdell, Drummer Bob Bigelow, and Vocalist Jason Keener in 1996, which were originally named Sower. 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 "Scars that Don't 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

  • Zao (1997–present)
  • Lonely//Ghost//Parade (2010–present)

Former

  • Seasons in the Field (1996–1998)

Discography

Sower

  • Level Ground on Which to Stand (1996)

Seasons in the Field

  • Psalms of Ariana (1997, w/ Pensive)

Zao

See Zao discography

Lonely//Ghost//Parade

  • "Stand in the Fire" Single (2010)
  • Feral King/Lonely Ghost Parade Split EP (2012)

Guest appearances

As interviewee

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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