Exumer: Hostile Defiance (Metal Blade Records) [Paul H]
Three years ago, I reviewed the fourth full-length by German thrash merchants Exumer. The Raging Tides was full throttle old school, thrash which the band had delivered back in the 1980s before returning in 2012 with Fire & Damnation. Well, here we are again, with Hostile Defiance album number five. Once again it delivers exactly what you would expect and demand. Kreator, Sodom and Destruction are now joined by another band who provide that no-nonsense Teutonic thrash which you either love or hate. Personally, I can listen to this all day, the raging febrile tempo, drumming going like the Duracell bunny, slashing riffs and great hooks all topped off with snarling but understandable vocals.
The opening three tracks on this release confirm that nothing much has changed. The title track, Raptor and Carnage Eater all speed along at 150mph (or 241kph for our European friends), jagged riffage, slicing solos and thunderous bass all pit inducing. The stomp of Dust Eater is reminiscent of US thrash Icons Exodus and Overkill, and that is high praise indeed. Sometimes it’s the simple things done well that work best, and Exumer do that with aplomb. Tracks such Trapper, Vertical Violence and the flesh peeling Splinter are all solid thrash anthems.
The bonus version adds a blistering cover of Scorpions He’s A Woman – She’s A Man and a brave stab at Entombed Supposed To Rot. Big balls indeed to get stuck into those two beasts but it demonstrates the confidence that Exumer now have. With Sodom producer Dennis Koehne at the helm, it’s a polished yet raw package just as you would want a boiling hot thrash album. I gave The Raging Tides an 8 and Hostile Defiance maintains the quality. Bang your head and enjoy. 8/10
Obscure Infinity: Into The Vortex of Obscurity (FDA Records) [Paul H]
Crushing death metal comes your way courtesy of the third full-length release from German outfit Obscure Infinity. I must admit I was only vaguely aware of the four-piece, but this release has certainly sparked interest. Formed in 2007, the band comprises Kalle on drums, Stefan on guitar and bass, vocalist Jules and guitarist Sascha. Named after a song by death metal legends Grave, Obscure Infinity released their debut over 11 years ago with a seven-year gap before Perpetual Descending Into Nothingness appeared in 2015. Several EPs and split releases linked the two.
So, what do we get? Well, the opening salvo of Embrace Obscurity and Cosmic Disgrace are both fast, furious thrashing death metal songs, with guttural vocals and the usual face melting riffing. Grotesque Face, possibly my favourite song title of the year, starts hard but completely shifts direction and moves to standard heavy metal with an almost power metal attitude, clean melody, sweet guitar solos and a change of tempo all apparent before the band move towards a more traditional melodic death metal approach to conclude. Holding the central slot on this album is a massive opus, over eight minutes of melodic death which ebbs and flows like a mighty river. Lightning Spear (A Forlorn Wanderer Pt.II) is a complex and unwieldy beast but it works well, the changes of tempo and style sufficient to maintain interest throughout. This track is surpassed by the closing track, the epic Swallowed By Time And Darkness, a mixture of melodic guitar work and crushing death metal riffs which conclude a solid and impressive release. 7/10
Invictus: Burst The Curse (Independent) [Manus]
This EP from German group Invictus features just three tracks, making it feel more like a demo. On a first listen, its most notable quality is how quickly it ends; it really isn’t a sit-down listen. That being said, the songs are strong efforts. The opener, Burst The Curse is a ripping fast-paced tune that aside from an ill-placed acoustic bridge, maintains its energy throughout. Gaia is an acoustic track that features the strongest vocal performance of the three and shows the band is able to pull off at least two different styles. Going back into the heavy territory, the third and final track, Someone Out There is more of the same, but unfortunately, some sour vocal notes distract from the chugging riffage that carries the song. The songs would all flow much better in a full-length record, or at least an EP that’s a couple tracks longer to give them some cohesiveness. 6/10
Lost In Kiev: Persona (Pelagic Records) [Manus]
Experimental, ambient, atmospheric, weird, but most of all, chill, are some of the words that come to mind listening to Lost In Kiev’s Persona. There’s a very relaxing nature about all of these songs. Even with heavy drums and fast bits, this is an album you’d just want to have playing while you shut off and chill out. The futuristic tinge adds a of depth to the record, notably on tracks like Pygmalion and XM3216. Mindflies is a bit of a faster and heavier tune, but incorporates the record’s essence so much to not break the mould that is firmly in place by the time that track kicks in. Other songs that stand out are the trippy Psyche, the bright The Incomplete and the album’s melodic closer, Mecasocialis. The tunes are very visual and able to conjure up images in the mind. It would be a fine record to put on at the end of the day for someone trying to wind down or decompress. But it can also be an album to really pay attention to in a more awake state. 7/10
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