Review EX DEO “Year of the Four Emperors” – EP

Ex Deo was founded as a project initiated by Maurizio Iacono together with Jonathan Leduc. With “Romulus” a first longplayer hit the shelves in 2009 and after a hiatus in 2014 Ex Deo returned in 2017 with their third album “The Immortal Wars”.

Now the new metal year will start with another release from the Canadian metal force. Ex Deo are launching a four-track EP that once again underlines their passion for Ancient Rome, and listening to these songs feels like experiencing a metallic soundtrack for movies like “Gladiator”.

Cinematic soundscapes and harsh death metal merge and lead to songs like the dramatic opener “Galba”. What the song title already indicates is the thematic approach of this EP. Ex Deo’s songs are lyrically based on the year 69 AD, the year of four Roman emperors, and each song is named after one of them. It’s about the rise and fall of these historical figures, with Ex Deo providing a musical rendering of these events. Anyone who thought that history was boring might change their mind, because a release like “Year of the Four Emperors” offers a different access to the past.

Production-wise, the release is fully anchored in the now. Ex Deo deliver an album with a very dense and nuanced sound that doesn’t compromise on heaviness. Symphonic elements, crushing riffs and excellent vocals are the main elements of this release that entertains from start to finish.

“Year of the Four Emperors” is a further statement from Ex Deo that they are more than just a project. Next to Kataklysm, Iacono has established the band as a musical force next to the mothership. Fans of symphonic death metal should check out this release, which is well done to bridge the time until the next full-length album.