CD review EXUMER ‘Hostile Defiance’

(8/10) Since a few years German thrash veterans Exumer are back with excellent thrash metal. After returning in 2012 band released with ‘The Raging Tides’ an excellent album, followed by very energetic live shows.

Three years later Mem von Stein and bandmates are back with a new offer. It’s entitled ‘Hostile Defiance’ and comes with ten new songs. The new album picks it up where the guys left off with ‘The Raging Tides’. Well-crafted thrash metal is what you get out of your speakers after having pressed the ‘Start’-button.

It feels like the band listened to some Exodus lately. At least some parallels can’t be denied. It’s mainly the riffing and the groove that reminded me more than once of the Bay Area legends. However, von Stein and his metal gang have still a lot of own identity to add and the album is 100% Exumer.

The German metaller start with the title track and it’s for sure not a slow start. ‘Hostile Defiance’ sets the scene for the next 40 minutes. Songs on Exumer’s fifth album are spot on and the guys don’t lose themselves in details. This album is more of a steam hammer that shows no mercy. Most of the songs are less than 4 minutes of length, which means that metallic power is distilled to its essence and uptempo songs like ‘King’s End’ and ‘Trapper’ belong to the best thrash metal can deliver.

Exumer in 2019 might be even more relevant than ever. The band managed to keep the thrash metal spirit from the early days alive, which they combine nowadays with gained experience from over time. ‘Hostile Defiance’ shows that getting older doesn’t mean that you get calmer too. Exumer is still loud and to the point. Hopefully they keep on riding this wave for a long time.

(8/10)

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