Review EXHORDER ‘Defectum Omnium’

It wasn’t the best time for a thrash metal band to start in the early 90s. After metal in general had its peak during the 80s the upcoming subgenres of rock and metal took attention in the next decade and made life for bands like Exhorder not very easy. Despite this trend, the band unleashed with ‘Slaughter in the Vatican’ and ‘The Law’ to very solid thrash metal albums and it was the artwork of the debut, that visually provided a momentum. In 1994 though things came to an end with the band disbanding.

After a few attempts to re-install Exhorder a breakthrough came in 2017. Driven by founding member Kyle Thomas, Exhorder returned with a new line-up and launched with ‘Mourn the Southern Skies’ a great new album. Five years later it is time for a next studio album and the guys pick things up where they left-off with ‘Mourn the Southern Skies’.

‘Defectum Omnium’ is the title of the band’s fourth effort and what fans can expect is powerful and energy-driven thrash metal that refers to the roots of the band and at the same time sounds modern and very dynamic. In contrary to the title, which is Latin for “The Failure of All”, this longplayer is the opposite of a failure. It is a strong statement of a veteran band that their second era can be at least as successful as the 90s phase. The title though indicates the thematic approach of the album. It is about mankind, being the failure of nature.

Musically the album has much to offer and that goes deeper than to the fact of a tracklist that includes 12 songs. Within a 54-minute running time, Exhorder shows its doomy side with songs like the slowly crawling riff monster ‘The Tales of Unsound Minds’ and it is the seven-minute title track that follows a similar approach. Starting with a longer intro part ‘Defectum Omnium – Stolen Hope’ grows to a sinister metal song with a lot of intensity being embedded.

What helps to let these great songs shine in a hellish glance is the sound of the album. Produced by the band and mixed by iconic Jens Borgren ‘Defectum Omium’ is a raw release that’s loaded with heaviness. This becomes apparent during the slower songs also put the relentless thrashers like ‘Divide and Conquer’ are a treat for headbangers.

A refence to their own history is what the four-piece offers with songs like the anthemic opener ‘Wrath of Prophecy’. Furthermore, the album includes thrashing moments like ‘Sedition’, another song that comes without any compromise to heaviness.

Each of these twelve songs id equipped with a New Orleans inspired groove and it’ songs like the massive ‘Year of the Goat’ that brings these influences very much to the fore.

To sum up: ‘Defectum Omnium’ is the anticipated strong next Exhorder delivery. Kyle Thomas and bandmates successfully transfer the thrash metal spirit from the early days into the here and now. At the same time the band doesn’t stand still and adds some modern elements to their sound without denying the roots. These twelve songs great ambassadors for thrash metal in 2024 and represent a band that sounds even stronger than during the 90s.