ALBUM REVIEW: Defectum Omnium – Exhorder
Having risen from the dead in 2019 and releasing their first album for 27 years in Mourn The Southern Skies, Louisiana’s EXHORDER were set reaffirm their status as one of metal’s heavy hitters. But then, the world shut down in 2020 with the COVID pandemic and it felt like the rug had been swept from under their collective feet. Five years on since their comeback record, it feels like EXHORDER are intending to have a third roll of the dice with their fourth full-length record, and first for five years, Defectum Omnium.
Granted, the departure of founding guitarist Vinnie LaBella in 2020 could have been a killing blow, but with vocalist Kyle Thomas remaining as the sole orchestrator, and a refined lineup featuring death metal icon Pat O’Brien [CANNIBAL CORPSE], it feels like EXHORDER are prepped as well as they could be to deliver aural carnage. And just a cursory listen of Defectum Omnium confirms that this band can still go toe to toe with the best of them.
Album opener Wrath Of Prophecies comes roaring out of the gates in top gear as the quartet showcase that there are no cobwebs in the five years since their last studio outing. Lean and mean with plenty of aural venom, this is music that gets you pumped and adrenaline flowing. From there, Under The Gaslight swings with NOLA-tinged riffage and boasts thick grooves that tickles the eardrums, Forever and Beyond Despair is a snotty, pent-up punk rager where Thomas really comes into his own with some explosive vocal snarls and the tasty solo will have you rehearsing your finest air guitar skills.
The Tale Of Unsound Minds however, flips the speed of thrash on its head and sees EXHORDER embrace the more sludgy tones their home State are renown for. Subdued and moody, the track can feel initially jarring considering the album’s earlier rapid onslaughts, but it demonstrates that EXHORDER can still pack a punch even when they move down the gears.
Divide And Conquer is a throwback thrasher that would sit comfortably with the Bay Area greats in their 80s heyday, Year Of The Goat oozes speed and carnage as the band keep the tempo high throughout, and in the likes of Defectum Omnium/Stolen Hope, the lengthy runtime of nearly seven and a half minutes allows EXHORDER to flex their creative muscles to deliver a sustained thrash attack that leaves you gasping for breath. Despite all the bumps in their long and storied road, it’s a joy to hear EXHORDER this energetic and enthusiastic to deliver aural bedlam.
All in all, Defectum Omnium demonstrates that EXHORDER have not lost any of the bite and snarl that have made them such a revered name in heavy music. Whilst the album is slightly bloated in places and could have benefited with some fine-tuned cuts here and there, but when the riffs are this killer, there are few complaints. Defectum Omnium is a solid record that speaks to the essence of what makes metal so thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating: 8/10
Defectum Omnium is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.
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