Formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, Exmortus has been on a quest to bring the elements of Thrash, Neoclassical, and Death Metal into their sound. With a list of studio albums to their credit since 2008, they have been hard at work learning and growing a fierce following. The current lineup – Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez (lead vocals, guitar), Phillip Nunez (bass, backing vocals), Chase Becker (guitar), and Adrian Aguilar (drums) – now return with their new album Necrophony.
After a long five year wait, Necrophony, their sixth overall studio album, found Exmortus re-emerging on August 25, 2023 through Nuclear Blast Records. It seems they spent this time locked inside of a decrepit and haunted amphitheater. Perhaps the details of these secret rituals are better left unsaid, but we are going to revel in the results. Supernatural forces were at work refining and growing their sound. There is a sense of urgency to the music and eldritch themes permeate every track. The soaring leads leap to new heights, the words are delivered with a level of malevolence, and the bass and drums beat an unholy rhythm. Fans should be excited about what is happening here, and newcomers to Exmortus will find something to behold.
Consisting of 12 tracks, the album opens with a sense of foreboding and gets right to work with this epic Symphonic Metal journey. There is a dark heart pumping energy into these tracks. You’ll find leads that are bright and searing light delivered with wicked precision. Listeners will feel a grand compulsion to chant along with the lyrics as a hint of something evil broods over them. While not a concept album, there is a distinct feeling of a dark and dramatic story being woven throughout the songs.
There are also many tracks that make the blood race, most notably “Oathbreaker” comes to mind. A searing opening riff gives way to blistering lyrics; “Over the western lands a long shadow lies/and in evil times the dead awaken and arise.” The solo on this track is like a tempest of evil energy that twists, turns, and threatens everything in its path. It’s magnificent in its dark glory. This is while the title-track closes out the album and pulls out all the stops. With thundering drums, and a razor-sharp opening guitar attack lead right into the unrelenting growl of the vocals, it is breathtaking and operatic, with that familiar touch of darkness. The band basks in the glory of the spotlight at center stage and delivers a stunning performance with everything that is good about
Exmortus.
All in all, Necrophony is an incredible effort from Exmortus. It takes the core of what makes them great and distills it into something dark, complex, and satisfying to listen to. Their sound has grown and evolved in fantastic ways. To the existing fans of the band, this is an exciting and important entry in the career of the band. For fans just joining them, this is a high bar to set because this masterpiece is the culmination of their experience so far. Either way, Exmortus delivers a deeply satisfying experience and it will be exciting to see how this translates to their live act.
That in mind, in case you want to check them live, they will be acting as support for Death Angel at their 8th Annual X-Mas Show at Catalyst Club in Santa Cruz, CA on December 20th. Until then, for all the wicked grandeur and drama, Cryptic Rock gives Necrophony 5 out of 5.
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