Exmortus – Necrophony
Exmortus – Necrophony
Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 25/08/23
Running Time: 53:40
Review by Paul Hutchings
7/10
Album number six for Californian thrashers Exmortus, and their first since 2018’s “The Sound of Steel”. It’s a fact that with so many bands out there doing their thing today, many seem to blend into each other. Thrash is the classic example – and far too much of it is below par a lot of the time. That’s not the case with Exmortus, whose neo-classical style offers some variation from the shouty core vocals and thick breakdowns that seem to be the dominant genre.
It’s a standard introduction, with ‘Masquerade’ the typical instrumental beginning that sets the scene, builds the atmosphere, and then launches into ‘Mask of Red Death’. Thunderous, driving riffing combines with the death-drenched vocal delivery of Jadran Gonzalez, whose style mixes Jeff Walker of Carcass and Chuck Schuldiner. It works well, with the bulging bass lines of Phillip Nunez bucking beneath the main melody. The guitar work is on point, razor-sharp, while the soaring solos are reminiscent of Bill Steer’s Carcass work. Frantic, powerful, it’s a strong opening.
It remains very much like this until we arrive at the shredfest that is ‘Storm of Strings’. A veritable metal maelstrom, it’s the kind of piece you’d expect on a Yngwie Malmsteen release. The neo-classical style rides the crests, whilst the rest of the band lock in tight. Frenetic stuff!
Elsewhere, the metal flows at high speed, switching from the traditional metal of ‘Test of Time’, through to the more Amon Amarth style of ‘Prophecy’. There are some big, epic songs tucked away here as well mind, with the two beasts ‘Darkest of Nights’ and ‘Children of the Night’ running in at over eight and seven minutes respectively, the latter drenched in a sinister darkness that blends Midnight with Carcass in many ways.
At just under an hour, “Nerophony” was always going to challenge the attention span. However, this is an album that will either grip you or demand you turn it off, such is the style that Exmortus deliver. Their black metal edged finish, much in the vein of those who straddle black and death metal, works across the album, and leads neatly to the grand finale, a cracking cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘Moonchild’, which closes off an exciting album in grand style. It’s not going to threaten my top ten of 2023, but it’s an album that is well worth a listen.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Masquerade
02. Mask of Red Death
03. Oathbreaker
04. Mind of Metal
05. Storm of Strings
06. Test of Time
07. Darkest of Knights
08. Prophecy
09. Children of the Night
10. Beyond the Grave
11. Overture
12. Necrophony
13. Moonchild
LINE-UP:
Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez- Vocals/ Guitar
Chase Becker – Guitars
Phillip Nunez – Bass / Backing Vocals
Adrian Aguila – Drums
LINKS:
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