It boggles my mind for me to sit here and think back to my youth in the mid-80’s and remember quite clearly what labels were prime examples of the early metal underground. Back then the main contenders for our cash were Combat/Relativity, Metal Blade, Megaforce, New Renaissance, Banzai out of Canada, Music for Nations from overseas, and a slew of lesser-known labels that put out some of the more obscure releases. Today we have a few dozen labels out there vying for a slice of the pie, yet Heavy Artillery harkens back to a period where mostly everything on a certain label was pretty competent (as a high-ranking member of the original Combat Army my allegiance was clear), and Exmortus’ latest effort in Beyond the Fall of Time is no exception.

Since 2008’s In Hatred’s Flame Exmortus has carved itself a niche in the cooling hearts of thrash fans; its no-frills brand of speedy heavy metal relies more on creating potent riffs and memorable vocal melody than the casual lifting of recycled or tired chords. After a solid acoustic/electric opener in “Bane Forthcoming”, the brazen Judas Priest-like assault delves deep and conjures up imagery of a thousand denim-vested legions throwing fists high and banging the head that doesn’t bang. In fact, the music seems a logical cross between the Priest and one of the more modern thrash bands that haven’t given way to this ‘nu-thrash’ explosion that seems to be slowly morphing into a cancerous lesion in the underground. Vocally Conan offers his gruff, barking quality with the general ease of Tom G. Warrior or a latter-day Cronos without so much bravado hindering the process. Discernable, capable vocals are a welcome gift when the occasional high-range in “Kneel Before the Steel” jolts the system accordingly.

Musically the album is tight in the already-resonating tradition of thrashing metal we’ve come to expect from Exmortus; the galloping riffs that change in perfectly-timed accordance with solos at just the right intervals truly offer the technical thrash enthusiast a comparable example of Heavy Artillery’s commitment to quality and style. By the time I’ve hit “Destroy” I’m fully subservient to the quick pace and dynamic attention to nuances both historical and modern that makes Beyond the Fall of Time an album well worth looking into. With each track its own small island in that nothing seems to stumble over the other with bland or derivative carelessness, this is a record that can be revisited with regularity, provided it even leaves your rotating player for a couple of weeks.

I’m not sure if the little kids at local shows ‘windmilling’ and ‘pogoing’ (or whatever it is the pedestrian milieu calls concert-going these days) would really get the music herein, but for the beleaguered veterans that have a few years of antiquity under their respective belts it’s a pleasant trip to the good areas of modern thrash and a past filled with influence and sacred musical edicts fit for only the chosen few.

TRACK LISTING

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

1.  Bane Forthcoming
2.  Kneel Before the Steel
3.  Black XIII
4.  Beyond the Nile...
5.  Entombed with the Pharaohs
6.  Destroy
7.  Crawling Chaos
8.  Left to Die in the Paradox of Time
9.  Khronos (Forever in the Void)
10.  The Gathering

Total playing time: 46:53

Release Date: September 6, 2011
Label: Heavy Artillery Records

Exmortus - Beyond the Fall of Time

Reviewer: Chris

September 13, 2011