"Another awesome album from the kings of metalcore, this band paves the way for everyone who dares to follow. In their newest release 'liberate' picked up where the old one left off. In this album Zao diversifies their songs in a way that most hardcore bands lack, every song has its own edge which keeps you on your heels from the second the first slow instrumental kicks in all the way through kathleen barbera, i wasnt too fond of that last instrumental but it takes alot for me to like songs with no words. The only thing lacking in this album was vocals, dont get me wrong, Dan has the most powerful voice you'll ever hear, just in the past 2 releases "blood and fire, split Ep" His voice had a wider range of tones than in this one. But, dont let that stop you from buying this cd cause as you can see that little problem didnt keep me from giving it a 5, or calling it one of my favorite albums like i just did right then. So if you like their style and havent heard this CD yet then do yourself a favor and add this one to your collection cuz you wont be disappointed!"
Another excellent album
Jerome Barthelemy | Panama City, FL USA | 09/17/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those of you who were hoping that Zao was going to go back to their hardcore ways, you're going to have to keep hoping. This album is even more extreme and metal influenced than their classic album "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest." There are times where it even shows resemblence to Neurosis with the sludgy wall of noise that Neurosis has perfected. Songs #2, #5 and #8 are the best ones in my opinion and the new songs are excellent live as well. I highly recommend this album!!"
Save yourself because your scared by ZAO.
howitzer | Vancouver, WA | 12/31/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Definite increase in overall talent and production from last album "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest". Guitars and drums are firepower on this album. WBAFBR's album had the lead singers voice recorded higher than instruments. Not so on "Liberate To Ex Inferis". The guitars are turned way up, much more power than previous attempt. ZAO is the ultimate adrenaline band, they will start out with an acoustic melody,just when you think it is a hardcore bands attempt at a Green Day song, the vocals detonate and the guitars explode into a mastery of hardcore mayhem. The lead singers voice is frightening. You would think this band is from a hole six feet in the ground. But upon glancing at the lyrics you know these guys are Spiritual Warriors. They will scare you into knowing Jesus. Flat out HARDCORE."
Dark and scary
Timmy | Somewhere,Canada | 03/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I got this album and i nearly evacuated myself. it's incredibe. Much better recording that WBFBR. The guitars are unbelievably heavy and complex, the drums are solid and brutal. Especially the last song. Two drum kits are awesome. My only problem is the lyrics are really abstract and not a christian as WBFBR.Really dark, it's like a hellfire and brimstone sermon. But still a must buy."
An unusual favorite
matt schaefer | Millstadt, Il | 04/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this album (the first Zao album I ever bought) without ever hearing the band. I just heard a few good things about them. I really didn't know what to expect, as I am not christian, nor am I really big into christian music. I did not even know this band was christian when I bought this album. Ironically, alot of the music I listen to is death and black metal from Europe, which is all about Satan and stuff like that. Zao was actually the first christian band I really got into. I am not a person to judge a band on religious beliefs. I am agnostic, so I like to throw those types of things out when evaluating an album or whatever. Anyway, this album is really unique. As I listened to it for the first time, I was struck by a strange dark feeling, one of great pain. This album overflows with sorrow, and it feels more genuine than most metal bands that attempt to generate evil images. the production is not very good, which is something I really did not like at first, but after a few listens, the dark, muddy sounding production actually begins to enhance the downtrodden mood of the album. Musically, this album is very heavy. I am pretty sure these guys are labeled as a hardcore band, but I really think they go way beyond any other hardcore band I have ever heard. I would describe it as kind of a mix between black metal and hardcore. It does not have the neo-classical symphonic melodies used so often in black metal, but the chugging riffs and intense vocals are there. This is an album that really grew on me. I liked it when I got it, but I wasn't amazed. The more and more I listened to it, the greater it got. This album is just insane - one of the heaviest albums ever - and this is coming from a guy who has heard all the albums by bands like Meshuggah, Nile, Cryptopsy, etc... it is just so moody, too. This is a cd every death metal fan should check out, as well as every hardcore fan. It really made me a big Zao fan - I now own all their albums except "Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation", which I will be purchasing soon. Daniel Weyandt is also the most extreme singer I have ever heard - especially on their new cd "Self-Titled", which I think is even a bit better than "liberate..". pick it up - destroy your premonitions. This is one damn heavy band."