The 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 Birth of Separation, was in many respects a hardcore praise and worship disc, Liberate Te Ex Inferis deals with something of a more earthy nature--the ongoing struggle of man facing a seemingly hopeless world.
The five movement titles, it is explained in the cover booklet, come from Dante's Inferno, representing his five principal rings of Hell. There are two tracks per movement, with the first and last tracks of the album being either completely or mostly instrumental.
Musically, Zao is one of the few non-hybrids around. This is straight-up hardcore: furiously-paced drums replete with cymbal crashes, heavily distorted guitars, anguished vocals. When this comes bursting forth after an acoustic intro (45 seconds into track 4, "If These Scars Could Speak"), it has the power to surprise, something few bands in a crowded scene do.
Lyrically, the album seems to be one 40+-minute impassioned scream for help, with such catching lyrics as:
Someone tell us we are loved
Someone take the pain away
Someone fill up the void,
Someone fix up my broken heart...
(from "Autopsy")
and:
This world encased in flames...
I desire the end
I desire the new beginning...
(from "Desire the End")
It seems that Zao's many member changes, and their new lyricist, have combined to bring a much darker edge to this band; While the album screams for help, nowhere is the Helper even really hinted at, except in the band's "thank you"s.
Sonically and artistically, this is a well-made disc; the vocals are as intelligible as any you'll hear in the genre, while the cover is well laid out and easy to read.
Overall, this is a fine disc for most hardcore listeners. If you want your music directly praising God, this isn't the disc for that; but if you'd just like to scream at the world for a bit, this album can help you do it.
3 tocks
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 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…Similar sounding releases
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