Review: Exhorder Continue Their Legacy of Groove with Defectum Omnium
There must be something in the deep, dark bayous of Louisiana that makes some of the heaviest, grooviest metal out there today. Like a massive alligator that’s become the apex predator over years and years of dominance, Exhorder have slinked out to take another bite out of anyone listening to their latest album Defectum Omnium. Set for release this Friday, March 8 via Nuclear Blast, the band’s fifth full-length album showcases exactly the type of grooviness they originally pioneered back in the ’90s.
Defectum Omnium—or “the failure of all” in Latin marks a return to Exhorder’s thrash metal roots. It’s aggressive, intense, and full of energy featuring powerful riffs, Kyle Thomas’ signature vocals, and a new-found energy driving the band forward. The record also features cover artwork by Travis Smith of Katatonia and Opeth fame, which is a perfect compliment to the classic groove and heaviness of the album.
It makes sense for the band to even further embrace the groove metal sound they’re credited with creating and that bands like Pantera and Lamb of God helped push forth into the collective consciousness.
Since the release of their last record, 2019’s Mourn The Southern Skies, the band’s undergone a lineup change with guitarist Marzi Montazeri leaving and being replaced by former Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien. Though it’s his first credit with Exhorder, O’Brien’s style really works well on the record, adding a raw guitar tone to the band’s already aggressive sound.
Throughout each track, Exhorder do a great job of tapping into their classic sound and pushing the boundaries of modern heaviness with some downtuned, borderline death metal riffs. While some moments are predictable, that’s only because this style of music is so tried-and-true, and they definitely throw in a few surprises as well.
From the first moments of the record, it comes in strong and holds nothing back, showing that this isn’t going to be a dull album from the band despite their long career. As the opening track, “Wrath of Prophecies” sets the tone for the album with its aggressive and thrashy sound while another standout track, “Under the Gaslight,” showcases Kyle Thomas’ signature vocals. It also features a really great tempo shift that incorporates the band’s signature groove elements mixed with a solid thrash foundation.
In the lead up to the release of Defectum Omnium, the band said they went back to writing collaboratively like they did in their earlier days. As such, they wanted the punk and hardcore influence present in the early New Orleans extreme underground scene to shine through, rather than settle into a safe sound for the latter part of their career. As I listened through the entire tracklist, I can confidently say there are notes of 1992 on this record — and I mean that in the best way possible.
There are plenty of gems that really make it worthwhile to give Defectum Omnium multiple listens. “Divide and Conquer,” for example, features this incredibly intricate guitar work that keeps surprising me every time I hit play; it really showcases the band’s technical abilities. Then, the title track seamlessly blends into “Stolen Hope,” creating a cohesive listening experience while really nailing down the narrative that Exhorder was looking to create with this one. It really stands out.
Another timeless, fast-paced thrasher in the mix is “The Tale of Unsound Minds,” while “Year of the Goat” is sure to get circle pits thrashing around at a fever pitch wherever they play it.
And then to top it all off with perhaps the track I find the most exciting is “Your Six,” which features Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin of Trouble. The addition of those two powerhouses turns an already killer track into a star-studded banger and one of the most fun moments on the album.
This gem on the top of Exhorder’s career is nostalgic but still evolved, and definitely worth a listen for existing fans and those who love a good thrashy groove metal offering. It may be roughly five years since their last release and more than three decades since 1992’s The Law, but Defectum Omnium proves that these old dogs — these lifers — still have some fight in ’em and don’t plan on backing down any time soon.
Exhorder’s Defectum Omnium will be available this Friday, March 8 via Nuclear Blast. Preorder your copy today.
