Exhorder - Defectum Omnium

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Thrash Metal

This release has quite a bit of peaks and valleys, to me though, there are some peaks just not enough to earn it a top rating. A lot of Pantera-esque riffs...they seem to use the same tuning as Dimebag (I think drop 60). But Pat O'brien does a good job in his solos and his rhythms. Just not enough "great" licks, but enough to earn it an "80" rating. I don't really have much history with this band, though their 2019 release collectively earned a top score. It's made me want to purchase more of their releases even though I don't multitudinously highly believe in this release, mainly because the music itself wasn't enough to gain its favor in my estimation. If the rhythms were as strong as the leads, I would diametrically oppose this belief that they should earn a higher rating.

The vocals are decent, and they vary between yelling to some clean. It compliments the music well. Pat plays the guitar on pretty much all tracks, with (I believe) some guest musicians as well. I think I'm right in saying so. There are some songs that incorporate the vocals with reverb or an echo sound.

Aside from placating the Pantera-esque style on some tracks or licks, this whole album altogether is a great effort collectively. Pat sure hopefully recovered from being axed from Cannibal Corpse due-to run ins in the law and his drug addiction. I believe he was caught last year playing live for Exhorder to replace their existing guitar player. He's made a tremendous effort to be welcomed back into the metal community, even though this band is quite different in their metal genre than they are from Cannibal Corpse. Let's just hope he sticks with the band and continues on his journey with them in the metal world. These guys have a somewhat great mass of riffs that stand out altogether.

What keeps this CD going is the energy to each track and the electric moments of the guitars going alongside the vocals. I enjoyed this album, I thought it was a great effort by the band. They have a history, but not a long history, of LP's in their discography. Let's hope they last a lot longer! (Death8699)

(Nuclear Blast - 2024)
Score: 72

https://exhorder.bandcamp.com/album/defectum-omnium

Exhorder - Slaughter In the Vatican

BACK IN TIME:
http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Thrash Metal, Pantera

This album from start to finish is a never-ending amazing guitar riffs, leads, vocals and production quality that is top notch! This is a MONUMENTAL RELEASE. Within the thrash arena, these guys I'm sure battled with the Bay Area thrash metal bands back in the day. They sure as heck know how to grind it out with some truly amazing guitar they didn't or don't have a huge history of albums but I still think that they have some intriguing sounds coming out of these speakers! I wouldn't think rating this any less than a perfect score. They nailed it all the way through. I wouldn't say that they are thrash/groove, I'd say mostly thrash.

The vocals compliment the guitar work and the most invigorating part of the album is the guitar work. They just hit home all the way in this department. Being a time where thrash was paving its way into the metal community with bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Death Angel, et al. Exhorder has this unique style of guitar-work that really keeps the listener interested all the way through. The crunch tone guitars are just amazing. And the production does the band justice. The leads were amazing too, and I think this guitar work is something that cannot be duplicated.

I wouldn't want the band to change anything about this release. They really show maturity from early on. I'm not into the lyrics but the vocals go well alongside the music. It's not whiny or annoying. The vocals, that is. The music is the best thrash from the day, aside from what Metallica put out in the 80's. The music is just simply insurmountably amazing. And the fact that I didn't discover this band up until recently is a shame. These guys are just simply amazing musicians. They're album 'Slaughter In the Vatican' is going to remain one of the best releases in early 1990's. Sick as all hell!

If you haven't heard this band or this album, I urge you to do so immediately! This is one of the best thrash releases from back in the day when thrash was just getting a liking to the metal arena. These guys bring home one big MONUMENT. I see no flaws in this album or any of these songs. I'm urging listeners of metal music to get this if you haven't it's 30 years old now!! Help them keep the faith in thrash metal and you can be a sure follower of this group, even if it is just this album from theirs. I'm sure they'd be flattered at the fact that you took time to invest in their efforts! Long live Exhorder! (Death8699)

(R/C Records - 1990)
Voto: 90

https://www.facebook.com/ExhorderNOLA/