Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Cancer Eater — Opening with frantic instrumentation and urgent vocals, this track sets the tone for the album's exploration of fear and mortality.
-
→
Everything You Love Will Soon Fly Away — This song encapsulates the album's emotional core, merging haunting melodies with lyrics that confront the inevitability of loss.
-
→
American Sheets on the Deathbed — The track stands out for its reflective lyrics paired with an explosive soundscape, illustrating a powerful critique of societal norms.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's chaotic energy and thematic depth make it a notable entry in the metalcore genre.
What we noticed
- Many tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, shifting from fast-paced sections to slower, heavier breakdowns, creating a sense of unpredictability.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes of existential dread and personal struggle, often delivered with intense vocal performances that alternate between screaming and melodic passages.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- chaotic bursts of raw energy
- existential themes and reflections
- short tracks with intense emotion
- cathartic experiences through aggression
Maybe skip if you
- prefer calm and soothing sounds
- seek lengthy, tranquil albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2006, The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here marked Zao's return after a four-year hiatus following their album, All Else Failed. This record showcased a renewed intensity and experimentation, solidifying their position in the post-hardcore scene amidst lineup changes and evolving musical landscapes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Refused· The Chariot· Converge
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Cancer Eater 2:39
- 2 Physician Heal Thyself 3:56
- 3 Everything You Love Will Soon Fly Away 3:07
- 4 It's Hard Not to Shake With a Gun in Your Mouth 3:53
- 5 Kingdom of Thieves 3:23
- 6 Killing Time 'til It's Time to Die 3:02
- 7 There Is No Such Thing as Paranoia 3:06
- 8 Pudgy Young Blondes With Lobotomy Eyes 3:56
- 9 My Love, My Love (We've Come Back From the Dead) 2:48
- 10 American Sheets on the Deathbed 2:47
- 11 A Last Time for Everything 5:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.