Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




Zao
Liberate Te Ex Inferis (Save Yourself From Hell)



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 40 minutes, 13 seconds
Street Date: September 28, 1999


"Maybe the scariest and coolest album ever made." That was the perfect slogan to help market the third installment in Zao's dark saga. By this time in 1999, Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest had revolutionized hardcore metal and Zao was ready to capitalize on their success with Liberate Te Ex Inferis, which means "Save Yourself From Hell." This album has been admired by many musicians in and out of the Christian music scene and still holds true to this day as a metal masterpiece. Guitarist Scott Mellinger was brought in, as their new permanent lead guitar player who would bring a much darker and heavier version of Zao that was never heard before. Liberate is their third studio album with Solid State Records as well as their second attempt to move away from the original openly Christian version of Zao.

Upon listening to the intro track, you will discover that this will be a wild ride by musicians who are very heavily influenced by the production design of Neurosis. "Intro" starts off very slow with a few minor guitar parts and quickly picks up into a full metal song. Towards the end of the interlude, we hear Dan Weyandt say, "That was nothing. That was only a word. Reality is much, much worse." "Savannah," as well as a majority of Zao songs, deals with some of the hypocrisy that takes place in Christianity. The words to "Savannah" tell the story of a dying porn star while a group of believers stand by and do nothing to help her, "They can't believe the machine was alive but we saw it bleed, The machine falls apart and when it's cut it bleeds, The machine bleeds, She was alive."

"Autopsy" offers a more uplifting message as Dan asks for spiritual help from above, "I can't see it but I feel the light, Someone tell us we are loved, Someone take the pain away, Someone fill up the void, Someone fix my broken heart, Are you that someone?" Musically, "If These Scars Could Speak," "The Ghost Psalm," and "Skin Like Winter" are great songs but it was a little difficult to see what Dan was trying to convey lyrically. "Desire The End" is also a noteworthy track about eagerly awaiting the end of all things and the return of Jesus Christ, "I desire the end, The touch of Armageddon, This world encased in flames, I desire the end, I desire the new beginning." The album comes to a close with the instrumental track, "Man In Cage (Jack Wilson)." The last song seems a bit slow, but "Man In Cage" closes the album in a perfect way and offers something a little different from Zao's previous releases.

As far as complaints go, I was a little concerned with some of the dialogue from the movies Deceiver and Event Horizon being used on certain tracks such as "The Ghost Psalm." Hearing the question, "Do you want to make a deal? Cut a deal with the devil?" before the song begins just felt unnecessary. Another downfall with Liberate is the fact that a few songs were not clear enough to understand, which was also the problem with "The Ghost Psalm." Despite two minor flaws, however, the album is a truly dark and beautiful masterpiece. Fans of Haste The Day, As I Lay Dying, and Killswitch Engage need to do themselves a favor and check out this album to see where their favorite hardcore bands got their influences.

- Review date: 6/15/08, written by Fred Keel of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Solid State Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 40 minutes, 13 seconds
. Street Date: September 28, 1999
. Buy It: Amazon.com
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. Intro
  2. Savannah
  3. Autopsy
  4. If These Scars Could Speak
  5. The Ghost Psalm
  6. Desire the End
  7. Dark Cold Sound
  8. Skin Like Winter
  9. Kathleen Barbra
  10. Man In Cage Jack Wilson

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images