When I first gave this disc a couple of initial spins I was not very thrilled. Not because it sucked, but because it seemed fairly simple and not as harsh as Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest. Now after about 10 solid spins I found Liberate Te Ex Inferis to be nothing less than purely refreshing. I don't know what I was thinking at first. The LP is like nothing I've heard, mature, and powerful. If you've never heard the past two LP's from Zao and are a black metal fan you NEED to hear Daniel Weyandt's vocals. No this is not a black metal band, but Daniel has a raspy delivery (not shrill) that can be compared to Heartwork (CARCASS) yet better. Before I go into the music I wish people (even the band!) would quit calling Zao hardcore! The early material was hardcore, but this (and the last LP) is plainly metal. Also I know this isn't hardcore because it doesn't suck! Even though Liberate isn't death metal speed with blastfest this is ferociously angry art. The band relies more on drawn-out, power chord aggression and Daniel's scalp-tearing vox as their primary weapon. The groove breakdowns throughout the LP are sheer punishment and usually include ornate harmonic squeals, but never KORN (I'm gonna spew from saying that name.) Even though I reaffirm the music is not hardcore I do notice the guitarists frequent the abstract, light riffing common in hardcore/metalcore. Blended in the mix are plenty-o acoustical segments. They make the album somber and intelligent at worst. "Skin Like Winter" from the TRAINING FOR UTOPIA split EP is added on this album and while it is a little different than the rest of this LP it is still ruling as ever. As I mentioned, Liberate came off as being very simple in tempo and structure. It is not pummeling fast, but simple it is not. This album has so many amenities scattered around the backbone you really don't notice them until you play this a few times with full attention. When Liberate is not adding these pleasantries you'll realize you don't give a crap cause that's when they are just straight kicking your face in. I usually don't get involved much with lyrics, artwork, or general "band image", but Zao again stands out here as well. The lyrics are infected with depth, poetically creative, and alive. As for the layout and photo art, I have seen nothing like this. It reminds me of a mix between a novel and a circus (?) I'm not even going to bother describing it, see it yourself, you'll be better off I'm sure. Some may think it lame, I say it's brilliant. Also, I have never mentioned this in my past reviews, but this is a max volume LP only! I can never seem to get the full effect of this release without blasting it till my feeble bones rattle. To end my inconclusive rhetoric, know that I am a "death to all not death metal" fan, but Liberate will be played alongside my Suffocation, Malevolent Creation, and Nile discs with respect. Zao should be your first choice in your quest in finding extreme music that sounds like no other.
Skin lined winter. Cherished one fading away. I can see your breath begging to resurrect into death. Hiding scars back laced with splinters. Audience of a congregation make your way to the front. Close your eyes and grieve. You played your part so well.
9/10
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Ryan LittleThis disc was recorded way back in 1999, when Zao had a five-member roster. The combination of the riffs, drumming, and lyrical meaning is extremely potent. Classic Zao, no doubt about it. The presence of Rob and Russ seems to provide some musical mobility, but at the same time it's amazing that their musical integrity has both kept its quality and gotten better since this cd. Here we have a disc…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Josh MarihughThe first thing that grabs you about the new Zao disc, other than the huge eye on the front, is the Latin title. Now take a look at the back; the disc is divided into five movements. Has Zao gone all epic on us, a la Saviour Machine? No, although their newest album has taken a decided turn for the darker, compared to their earlier work. Where Zao's first Solid State disc, The Splinter Shards the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Matt CildermanThe latest album that Zao has stirred up is a thick and hearty feast for all of you who love Deathcore. The concept behind this album is awesome and quite original. It digs deep into some of the ideas from Dante's Inferno. There are ten songs in five groups; the five groups represent the five circles of hell. These songs are dark and stay right with the theme, while the lyrics are descriptive and…HM Magazine #79Reviewed by David BixlerI am going to admit something. I absolutely love Zao, and they have remained one of my favorite bands, even through various lineup changes and a quite extreme musical progression. And yet, I wasn't sure that this album would deliver like their last release, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest, did. After listening to this disc several times though, that fear was quashed. This CD sees Zao cover even…Bandoppler 1999Reviewed by John SantGet ready. This may be one of the heaviest albums to come out in the past few years, and it will shock you. ZAO has carried the Blood and Fire sound to a whole new level with Liberate Te Ex Inferis, a refined, brooding approach to metalcore. The album is divided into five circles of Hell (Limbo, The Lustful, The Gluttonous, The Hoarders and The Spendthrifts, The Wrathful) with two songs in each…Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by John SantGet ready. This may be one of the heaviest albums to come out in the past few years. Zao has carried the Blood and Fire sound to a whole new level with Liberate Te Ex Inferis, a refined, brooding approach to metalcore. The album is divided into five circles of Hell (Limbo, The Lustful, The Gluttonous, The Hoarders and The Spendthrifts, The Wrathful) with two songs in each circle. Each song in one…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by ConradI thought I would hate this album considering it's genre - hard core/metal, and considering the vocals - death screaming. But, to me, this album did everything that a band in this style of music should do. First off this album is most embodied by the movie "Event Horizon." There are a few well chosen and well placed clips of the movie, at the beginning, middle and end, making it seem like this…Decapolis 1999Reviewed by Tom BastianI've never really been into this band or their style of music. So with that said I was actually kind of impressed, by the music that is. The vocals are a whole other story. Well I guess I will start out with the vocals. I don't think I understood a single word that was said, screamed, yelped, or forced out. The best analogy I could think of would be, if Cobra Commander from G.I. Joe had a dark…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestThis is the third record from metalcore masters Zao. Their previous album Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest was one of my favorite extreme music albums of 1998. That album featured guitarist Brett Detar who switched over to The Juliana Theory. I regret that because his playing on the Zao album was inspiring. To replace him, the band has now two guitarists. Surprisingly, the sound of Zao hasn't…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by FletchFar from The Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation. If you liked Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest, prepare yourself. Liberate Te Ex Inferis is the darkest, most evil sounding music I have heard in quite a while. It should go without saying that Jesse's drumming is nothing short of amazing and Dan's vocals are some of the best you will ever hear. However, the guitars are threefold better than…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by CrusaderExpectations. Seemingly, this is the word most associated with the latest studio effort by Zao. In the time following the release of 1998's Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest, a new breed of Zao fan emerged, as the disc created quite a stir with its hybrid of metal, hardcore, and yes, even rock. (if you don't agree, just tell me what you call that catchy riff in oh, "To Think Of You.." at 2:04 for…Similar sounding releases
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