ZEAL & ARDOR - Golden Liar (Official Video)

Producer: Manuel Sieber

Assistant Director: Anne Sommer
1st AC: Elia Mannhart
Gaffer: Jonas Steinbacher
Set Manager: Jeremy Marugan

Production Design: Viviane Rapp
Styling: Sina Loop
Hair & Make-Up: Michaela Mühlemann

Editor: Elia Mannhart
Sound Design: Jakob Eisenbach
Sound Design Mastering: Corsin Bader
Title Design: Milo Merguez

Daughter: Luise Hipp
Mother: Michèle Breu

Special Thanks:
Octamas AG
Leuchtturm Filmbeleuchtung AG
M. Tozzo

[TheRyanSales]

I just drove 4 hours from Missouri and watched these guys open for Mastodon & Opeth at the Ryman in Nashville. Never heard of them before the show. My first impression was a live show. Long story short, I have a new favorite band, and these boys killed it live.

[benhaggitt]

It's so frustrating when people claim there's no good music around these days. Zeal & Ardor are living proof that great music still exists.

[nickturner]

This band just keeps getting better and better. This is probably my new fav off the album so far

[marialindinger]

Z&A is the reason I can finally say that I have A favourite band. so genius.

[SinisterSkip]

Holy s-ht. I never really listen to this kind of music, but somehow this song instantly made me euphoric AND cry at the same time, and I can't even explain why. All I can say is, WOW, I've been complaining for a long time that metal isn't evolving much anymore, but this band's just proved me wrong. Z&A is the discovery of the last 5+ years. Amazing. I hope this video gets a million+ views!

[Gogish]

Today I heard "Church Burns"
It is magnificent!
All album is insane!
You guys are the best!
Hello from Ukraine!

[Iamthedeacon]

From Cincinnati. We love you. Please never stop.

[Ghost_]

С любовью из России, это произведение великолепно. Успехов и огромных побед этой группе. Ждем следующего альбома😘

[chewie]

This is my interpretation:

The speaker in this song is a young person that is manifesting a rebellious awakening against their parents' (or the community they grew up in) dogmatic teachings (like religion for example).
Parents try to teach their children to remain loyal to their rules, promising hope for a better life (or after life) if they follow them. The teachings are promises about love, light, hope, soul, freedom, honesty. But they are empty and are not resonating with the young person anymore. The way the main character in the song talks is proof that the indoctrination failed, and turned them into a "golden liar" to comply.

These lines are a refusal to recognize that promise:

"If luck follows the wicked, I'm a lucky man
If hope is for the true, then I'm hopeless, my friend
If I'm a sole survivor, I will be dead tomorrow

If love is for the big one, I'm a tiny man
If light is for the brave, I'm in darkness, my friend
If freedom gives you company, I'm a lonely man
Is this what you call honesty, 'cause I'm lying, my friend"

They are telling lies to keep in line with everything else around them, so in a way those lies are positive from the perspective of the parents/community, but unaware that they are lies. The way the young person was raised never made them feel free, or loved, or hopeful, or honest, or brave.

But the teachings not only failed, they also turned the "pupil" into the opposite type of person that they intended to grow. They never stuck to them. So the young person now rebels against everything they've been promised, because they aren't satisfied with the entire structure, so everything falls apart and becomes almost a lie. They retaliate with smoke and fire, like the devil in the stories they are told. Maybe that's exactly what they were told. Whenever the young person made a mistake, it was met with severe condemnation from their parents, getting accused of doing the work of the devil:

"I am the golden liar, I give you smoke and fire"

It's not pleasant to live in a fake lifestyle of a golden liar, and it feels frustrating having to endure endless reprimand. Bottling up these emotions eventually leads to an outburst. "And if you hold me tighter, I'll give you both and neither" (meaning the smoke and fire) imply that at this point the parent or the community keeps trying enforce their rules upon them without any success, and if this continues the child will either turn inward and close them out completely OR lash out with anger and wrath:

"I've waited thirteen years
Just to be standing here
(Come on)
(It's gonna be over soon)
'Cause I'm a golden liar, I give you smoke and fire
(Standing there)
And if you hold me tighter, I'll give you both and neither
(Any minute now)
(He's the only one, come close)"

Having a large part of their life and childhood "controlled" by this doctrine (13 years, not necessarily from birth), the moment they realize everything is a falsehood in their eyes they get hit with an existential crisis, not knowing how to cope:

"I feel my life is over
Got no will to live
Steady now, steady now"

This is how I related to the song. Thoughts?

[ptr_does_music]

When I heard the solo referencing At the Seams, I got goosebumps. This album is bound to be amazing!

[DeadheadJackal]

If luck follows the wicked, I'm a lucky man
If hope is for the true, then I'm hopeless, my friend

If I'm a sole survivor, I will be dead tomorrow
(Yeah)
'Cause I'm a golden liar, I give you smoke and fire
(Yeah)

If love is for the big one, I'm a tiny man
If light is for the brave, I'm in darkness, my friend
If freedom gives you company, I'm a lonely man
Is this what you call honesty, 'cause I'm lying, my friend

I am the golden liar, I give you smoke and fire
'Cause if you hold me tighter, I'll give you both and neither
(That's right)

I've waited thirteen years
Just to be standing here
(Come on)
(It's gonna be over soon)

'Cause I'm a golden liar, I give you smoke and fire
(Standing there)
And if you hold me tighter, I'll give you both and neither
(Any minute now)
(He's the only one, come close)
Thirteen years I've been waiting here
I feel my life is over
Got no will to live
Steady now, steady now

I am the golden liar, I give you smoke and fire
Yeah, yeah
'Cause if you hold me tighter, I'll give you both and neither
Standing there

[JP-xesc]

Look up the group called birdmask. Thank me later lol I've been following Manuel Gagneux for a while now. I'm addicted to his music. It hits a part of my soul and I feel again, I have yet to see them live but I plan to next time they're around my way.

[peterroberts]

I’ve not heard anything this good in a long long time

[alanabrams]

Alright boys; get comfortable.
Remember to drink water, don’t forget your piss bottles and your hot pockets.
This ain’t no game.

[simcns]

Guys, I don’t know why I’m saying this after 2 months but you’re the most innovative and original band from all the heavy music, it’s a huge honor that you represent the Switzerland (I come from Geneva 👀)
Edit: the album is cool thank you so much for creating good music 🖤

[aliceliddell]

das album wird einfach nur genial.. man merkt imo, wie sie sich weiter entwickelt haben. richtig geil.
nächstes jahr D/ köln, 8.5.
freu mich jetzt schon wie n kleines kind!!

almost 4 years, i´ve been waiting here..

[AnaraneSeragone]

I think this has turned into my very favourite Zeal and Ardor song. So beautiful!

[vapostorelafayette]

Tripal et cinématographique. Une chanson avec une âme, une vraie...Zeal & Ardor est l'un des groupes les plus innovants et passionnants du siècle...

[ViktorSarge]

Heck yes. I listened a lot to the first album and it was such a fresh take that I somehow assumed it was a one off studio project. Only learned about "Stranger fruit" today and obviously there's more coming. I'm a very happy man.

[leahjohnstone]

Converted to metal at the age of 57! looking forward to seeing you guys in Oslo in November ❤‍🔥