What a lot of the revisionist thrash/speed metal bands are lacking these days is songwriting smarts. Sure, they pack the musical chops to pull of their often, over-elaborate arrangements but the “kitchen-sink” writing style a lot of these bands are employing is failing them. Whittier, California’s Exmortus definitely understand how important the structural integrity of a song is. From beginning to end, their new album, In Hatred’s Flames is chockfull of the kind of classy songwriting usually reserved for veteran acts. Whether it’s the dazzling guitar interplay or the whip smart tempo shifts, the band impress around every turn. This is clearly a young band that has done their homework!

The guitar team of Balmore and Conan remind this writer of the neo-classical shred of bands like Cacophony, Forbidden, and Toxik. The lead runs on “Storm” will leave you absolutely breathless while their double-timed riffing on the title track shows off their command of timing. Balmore and Conan prove with each track that they also have a firm grip on what makes a metal song work. While their fretwork never rests, nothing seems to be forced in and taste is always of utmost importance to these guys. These are players which the guitar community should take notice of immediately.

Balmore’s menacing vocal style falls more into the death metal realm of things and its refreshing hearing a vocalist this gruff on top of technical speed/thrash killers like “War Gods” and “Fimbulwinter.” The contrasting shading lends the music yet another dimension of heaviness that definitely compliments the overall mood of the album. I can’t write this piece without mentioning the drum work by Mario (none of the band members list their last names). His performances here are a revelation. Check out his relentless footwork on “Triumph By Fire” for some of the most exciting playing you’ll hear in underground metal today. There’s really nothing to complain about here. This one should make the “Best of” lists later this year.

Rating: 9/10
Label: Heavy Artillery Records
Website: www.myspace.com/exmortus

By Carlos Ramirez

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 10:03 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

ferocious_fetus wrote:

local dudes getting big…cool.

August 13th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

Mauricio wrote:

This shit is METAL!!!!

September 11th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

rosie wrote:

this guys are awesome usto chill back in the day down to hearth kinda guys..i saw them when they first started playing backyard shows in baldwin park CA ….aaah thoose where the days…back in 05 cant belive it has been so long…we where all just a bunch of little bugers i remember me and my friends even made our own patches and sported them at the shows lol….truly proud of these guys we all knew one day they would make it YAY..:) but keep it brutal u turn all emo and shit might have to hunt you down lol ….muah

November 18th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

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