ALBUM REVIEW: Hostile Defiance – Exumer

While The Big Four were dominating the thrash scene in the USA, over in Germany something darker, more visceral was brewing. Every thrash fan worth their salt knows the majesty of the collective discographies of KREATOR, SODOM and DESTRUCTION, but there was a much wider thrash scene in Germany, wonderfully representing Europe’s contributions to the genre. One of the most promising in the initial scene of the 1980s was EXUMER, but after releasing two genre classics in 1986 and 1987 – Possessed By Fire and Rising From The Sea, respectively – the band fizzled out as the 90s rumbled ever closer. 25 years after the release of Rising From The Sea, EXUMER made a promising comeback with Fire & Damnation, and in 2016 released the magnum opus of their career thus far – The Raging Tides. Now, three years on from the strongest album of their career, EXUMER are back with another offering, courtesy of Metal Blade Records – but does Hostile Defiance continue the strength of The Raging Tides, or do EXUMER take a set backwards?

Hostile Defiance opens with the one-two of its first singles, the title track and Raptor. Wasting no time, EXUMER dive into some thrash riff-work ripped straight from 1986 while founding vocalist Mem Von Stein snarls his way through the classic, if perhaps a bit cheesy, lyrics of Hostile Defiance. We also get a taste of the blinding lead work from founding guitarist Ray Mensh. Raptor and Carnage Rider keep the momentum rocketing forward, ticking all the right boxes with the rough vocals, blistering riff work and shred-filled solos, while injecting big hooks, infectious grooves and catchy melodies into proceedings. It’s not until Dust Eater before EXUMER ease off the speed, dropping in a bruising swagger and a classic rock groove – a pleasant, if slightly forgettable, palate cleanser.

As EXUMER begin to approach the half way point, they ramp the ferocity back up to “starving wolf” levels with single King’s End. Channelling the energy, speed, and aggression that the Teutonic thrash scene became iconic for in the 1980s, King’s End slashes its way from balls-to-the-wall riffing in the verses, to a slightly calmer chorus and shred-filled lead work and back again with ease. Descent is the first serious competitor for Hostile Defiance‘s strongest moment, bringing something a little different into play. Eastern-sounding melodies permeate through the song proving to be real earworms, while EXUMER double down on the vital aggression and groove they have established thus far in the record.

With Order Of Shadows, we see EXUMER at their most melodic on Hostile Defiance. All the key ingredients are still there, but there is a tranquil sense of melody that comes in during the intro and chorus that brings another new direction to the onslaught of thrash aggression. This melody makes Order Of Shadows one of the catchiest moments on the record, and a guaranteed crowd pleaser in the live set. EXUMER bring Hostile Defiance to a close in much the same way it started – with a viscous blast of pure, German thrash. Splinter, the shortest song on the album, blasts it’s way through some of the most ferocious moments on the album, bringing the album to an exhausted close.

There’s no doubting that Hostile Defiance is certainly a strong addition to EXUMER‘s discography – the rough, raspy vocals; the blistering riffs; the blinding solos – all the boxes are ticked. But, unfortunately, the band fail to recapture the magic of The Raging Tides. It’s all too common for bands to dip, even slightly, after their magnum opus – IRON MAIDEN followed up career-defining Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son with the largely forgettable No Prayer For The Dying; MACHINE HEAD couldn’t replicate the brilliance of The Blackening with the reasonably strong Unto The Locust; and MORBID ANGEL‘s Heretic felt weak in comparison to the wonders of Gateways To Annihilation – and while there is plenty to enjoy with Hostile Defiance, EXUMER have suffered the same fate. But make no mistake, though Hostile Defiance doesn’t take the title of being EXUMER‘s best record, it’s a collection of blistering thrash from start to finish that every thrasher will enjoy.

Rating: 7/10

Hostile Defiance is set for release April 5th via Metal Blade Records. 

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