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EXMORTEM ‘Nihilistic Contentment’ (Wicked World) (2004)
One month before the end of a very rich and promising year for Metal music, I am beginning to picture how 2005 is going to be like, and the word is…loud! One of the first releases that is going to be featured on the shelves of every music store from the 17th of January comes from the Danish Death Metal band Exmortem.
Exmortem were originally formed thirteen years ago (1992) and the person that has kept them alive all these years with his dedication and stubbornness is the band's guitarist Martin Sigtyr. Why stubbornness, you may ask! Well, the reason is because for the first eight years the band has been through various line up and record label changes, enough to force any other band to call it a day.
Exmortem's first two albums "Labyrinths of Horror"(1995) and "Dejected in Obscurity"(1998) were released by Euphonious Records. After the release of the latter, Reno (drums) and Simon (vocals) joined the band, who has been enjoying a steady line up ever since. Two more albums will be released, one by Hammerheart Records "Berserker Legions"(2001), and one by Osmose Productions , "Pestilence Empire"(2002) before the band was approached by Earache's branch label Wicked World.
The band's fifth studio album is another attempt to create extreme and uncompromising Death Metal music, that's entitled "Nihilistic Contentment". It is beyond any doubt that this ten-track album is targeting the dedicated fans, and people that are also quite attracted by the extreme Death Meal scene. Exmortem have made it quite clear, that there is not enough room for melody in this album - at least not in the way it's presented by the representatives of the Scandinavian Death Metal scene during the last seven years.
What this album has to offer is skull crushing guitar riffs, amazingly fast and technical drumming and chaotic vocals.
I would describe the band's sound as a mixture of Immolation and early Morbid Angel, both of which bands can be mentioned as Exmortem's basic influences. With Reno (ex-Dimmu Borgir) behind the drum kit, and Martin creating some of the fastest but also most technical guitar riffs, "Nihilistic Contentment" will guarantee you thirty two minutes of total mayhem.
The album is in a way divided in two parts. The first one contains fast, brutal Death Metal songs like "Bitter Disciplin", "Division of Genocide Pleasure"(one of the best fast songs of the album) and "Parasite Paradise", where it is Reno's amazing drumming that will win the contest of the best performance and will capture your attention.
I believe though that it is the slowest and most technical compositions of the album (I don't believe what I've just said - hahaha) that allow the band to show more of their musical talent and their personality. All their admiration and respect for the great Morbid Angel is presented in songs like "Black Walls of Misery"(the best song of the album as far as I am concerned), "Flesh Havoc" and "Fix of Negativity".
A very good idea was the use of scattered Piano samples throughout the album - parts which gave a dark and atmospheric, yet quite brutal atmosphere to the album.
As far as the production of the album is concerned, Exmortem were left in the quite capable hands of their fellow-countryman Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Mnemic) who managed to create a very solid and dynamic sound for "Nihilistic Contentment" - exactly what a Death Metal release really needs.
Exmortem and their fans have every right to feel proud of their band's fifth studio album. It is a well-composed effort with a good solid sound and a strong vibe - It may not be the most original release ever, but that was not the band's intention in the first place! Totally recommended to the true devotees of the extreme Death Metal sound.
Review by John Stefanis
***½
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