{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox album | name = Liberate Te Ex Inferis | type = studio | artist = Zao | cover = Liberate Te Ex Inferis.jpg | alt = | released = August 10, 1999 | recorded = 1998–1999 | venue = | studio = Poynter Studios <small>(North Little Rock, Arkansas)</small> | genre = Metalcore | length = 40:13 | label = Solid State/Tooth & Nail | producer = Barry Poynter | chronology = Zao studio album | prev_title = Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest | prev_year = 1998 | next_title = Self-Titled | next_year = 2001 }} {{Album ratings | rev1 = ''HM'' | rev1Score =(not rated)<ref name="HM_79">{{cite journal|last=Bixler |first=David |date=September–October 1999 |title=Album Reviews: Zao ''liberate te ex inferis'' |journal=HM Magazine |url=//www.hmmagazine.com/issue79/79reviews.html |issn=1066-6923 |issue=79 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305082610/http://www.hmmagazine.com/issue79/79reviews.html |archive-date=March 5, 2001 }}</ref> |rev2=Exit Zine |rev2Score={{Rating|5|5}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20010506220643/http://www.exitzine.com/reviews-music/content.asp?content=rev-ZAO-LiberateTeExInferis.htm&bname=Zao&balbum=Liberate+Te+Ex+Inferis&stars=5 Exit Zine review]</ref> | rev3 = Jesus Freak Hideout | rev3score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|last=Keel|first=Fred|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/LiberateTeExInferis.asp|title=Zao, "Liberate Te Ex Inferis"|date=June 15, 2008|access-date=September 18, 2015}}</ref> }} '''''Liberate Te Ex Inferis''''' is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Zao. It is considered by many to be their most experimental and darkest album. It was released on Solid State/Tooth & Nail. This album features the addition of bassist Rob Horner. ''Liberate'' is the first Zao album to feature Scott Mellinger, who replaced Brett Detar after his decision to pursue The Juliana Theory full-time.
Both drummer Jesse Smith and vocalist Daniel Weyandt have stated during interviews that the music of post-metal band Neurosis had a heavy influence on this album's overall sound.
The album received the vinyl treatment in May 2011 from Broken Circles Records. It features new cover art, designed by Brent Lakes. It was re-issued on vinyl a second time in 2022, by Solid State. That version features all new artwork by Dave Rankin, who had previously done the artwork for ''Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest''.
==Content== The theme of the album art is based on Dante's inferno, as the songs are grouped in pairs named after the rings in hell.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r430852|pure_url=yes}} ''Liberate Te Ex Inferis''] at AllMusic</ref> Because of this arrangement, the album is often mistakenly labeled as a concept album. The band members themselves, however, had nothing to do with the idea and very little input on the artwork and layout.<ref name="interview">[http://zao.coolfreepage.com/interviewdw01.html Interview with Dan Weyandt (2001)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212959/http://zao.coolfreepage.com/interviewdw01.html |date=September 27, 2007 }}, Bandoppler. Retrieved July 22, 2007</ref>
The album contains several samples from the science fiction horror movie ''Event Horizon''. The title of the album, which is Latin for "Free Yourself from Hell", is also a quote from ''Event Horizon''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119081/quotes|title=Event Horizon - Quotes|website=IMDb}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{track listing | all_lyrics = Daniel Weyandt | all_music = Zao | headline = Circle I: Limbo | title1 = Intro | length1 = 3:38 | title2 = Savannah | length2 = 2:46}} {{track listing | headline = Circle II: The Lustful | title3 = Autopsy | length3 = 2:12 | title4 = If These Scars Could Speak | length4 = 4:43}} {{track listing | headline = Circle III: The Gluttonous | title5 = The Ghost Psalm | length5 = 5:42 | title6 = Desire the End | length6 = 4:58}} {{track listing | headline = Circle IV: The Hoarders and the Spendthrifts | title7 = Dark Cold Sound | length7 = 3:10 | title8 = Skin Like Winter | length8 = 2:23}} {{track listing | headline = Circle V: The Wrathful | title9 = Kathleen Barbra | length9 = 3:35 | title10 = Man in Cage Jack Wilson | length10 = 7:00 | total_length = 40:13}}
==Personnel== '''Zao''' *Daniel Weyandt – vocals *Scott Mellinger – guitar *Russ Cogdell – guitar *Jesse Smith – drums *Rob Horner – bass '''Production''' *Brandon Ebel - Executive Producer *Bernie Grundman - Mastering *David Johnson - Photography *Jason Parker - Artwork, Graphic Conception, Graphic Design *Barry Poynter - Producer
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Zao}}
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Category:Zao (American band) albums Category:1999 albums Category:1990s concept albums Category:Tooth & Nail Records albums Category:Solid State Records albums Category:Music based on Inferno (Dante)