𝐙𝐚𝐨: "𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐞 𝐄𝐱 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬"

 

TW: SA, SUICIDE

In 1999, Zao once again shattered the boundaries of Christian metal with their unapologetically honest fourth album, "Liberate te ex Inferis". 

Released on Solid State Records, "Liberate Te Ex Inferis" quickly established itself as one of Zao’s heaviest and emotionally intense albums to date. Blending poetic, anguished lyrics with crushing guitar work and unrelenting energy, Zao delivers an experience that left a lasting mark on the metalcore scene.

"Liberate Te Ex Inferis" is steeped in darkness, angst, and despair. It opens with the haunting instrumental “Intro,” which builds tension before giving way to “Savannah.” The track tells the true story of an adult film star who becomes disfigured in a car accident. Upon realizing the extent of her injuries and that she will never look the same, she attempts suicide in a moment of deep despair. She ultimately succumbs to her injuries while the Christians around her stand idly by, letting her die before them. The song critiques the hypocrisy and the cold detachment of those who watched her suffer, as well as the cruel beauty standards imposed by the industry. A tale of judgement, indifference, and the cost of body image wrapped in distorted guitars and aggressive screams.

From exploring themes of grief and death in tracks like “Skin Like Winter” and “Kathleen Barbra,” to heartfelt cries for help and desperate prayers in both tracks “Autopsy” and “Desire the End,” Dan Weyandt’s lyrical depth is on full display, meant not only to be heard, but to be felt. These songs are driven by thunderous drums, frantically melodic guitar work, and Dan’s unmistakable screams, blending emotion with aggression in a way that defines the album’s intensity.

Continuing the thread of Dan’s emotionally raw lyricism, the track “If These Scars Could Speak” stands out as one of the more personal and heartbreaking tracks on the album. On this track, Dan confronts the sexual abuse his ex-girlfriend endured at the hands of her youth pastor, an act that left her with deep emotional wounds. Through this song, Dan expresses the raw and honest grief, anger, and empathy, exposing not only the trauma itself but the silence that often surrounds abuse in the church. 

Though "Liberate Te Ex Inferis" stands as a gut-wrenchingly honest masterpiece, it also became the album that plunged Zao into deep controversy. The band faced backlash on multiple fronts: critics and fans alike questioned the dark lyrical themes, while others took issue with the heavier, more chaotic sonic direction. Behind the scenes, tensions rose even higher when label executives took control of the album’s artwork and track listing, a decision that clashed with the band’s vision and diluted their emotional investment. The result was an album seen by many as a concept record based on Dante’s Inferno, a narrative choice that wasn’t the band’s own. 

What once set them apart in the Christian hardcore scene became the very thing that distanced them from the audience that had embraced them. This shift further revealed the double-edged sword of navigating faith and culture within "secularized" Christianity, reiterating the message at the heart of "Liberate Te Ex Inferis"

Zao didn’t just push boundaries with this album; they tore them down, exposing the contradictions within a scene that demanded honesty but punished it when it got too real. "Liberate Te Ex Inferis" didn’t just ask its listeners to feel something; it dared them to confront what they believe, what they ignore, and what they can no longer pretend not to see, holding a mirror up to human emotions and hypocrisy within the church. 

Original Tracklist:

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"