Band: XPUS
Album: In Umbra Mortis Sedent
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Genre: Death Metal
Italian death metalers XPUS have lain down their prayer robes at the feet of the 90's DM gods, picked up their respective instruments, and delivered unto us a massive slab of sonic destruction. In Umbra Mortis Sedent, or, the shadow of death, is truly a vision of times gone past. The record drops the 8th of May.
XPUS start things off slow with a static infused intro track that sets a creepy foreshadowing for the record. "Into The Spheres of Madness" is where we're introduced to the wrathful sounds of XPUS. The starting cymbal jab from Ulviros and Mornak's riffs are repugnant, coupled with Aren's plaguer bass and low morbid growling vocals and you have a recipe for some good headbanging songs.
Track three, "Blood Rite of Liberation," starts off much the same as the previous with furious blast beats and layers of riffage. When XPUS slows it down about a third of the way through, it's as if they're saying to really lean in and listen. It doesn't stay slow for long, however, and launches back into the gruesome frenzy.
"The Gates Of Doom" keeps things quick and to the point, not drawing out the repeated riff for longer than needed. "Of Purity, Chastity And Temptation" begins rather quietly and creepy, building up quickly after a lull to the blast beat ridden chaos that XPUS does so well. Aren does some cool vocal work, switching between mid and low growls a few times that keeps the track and record feeling fresh and nasty. I find myself drawn to this song in part due to when XPUS slows shit down about mid-way through.
Track six on the record, "Broken Is The Seal Of Equilibrium," starts off with a cool almost pondering pace that makes your head nod to it. They bring the church bells in with style several times, and the arrangement of instruments makes this piece makes one of the better ones off the album.
"Clerical Rooms Of Depravity" sees XPUS doing what they do best; no-filler no-nonsense riffs and blast beats with Aren continuing to do his growls through it all. The vocalist sticks to a mid level growl for most of the record, but does a good job of throwing in variety throughout so it doesn't feel flat. Track eight starts off with some more gloomy atmosphere to keep things murky, with sounds of a thunderstorm and wailing in the background. While the riffs are nasty, this is a track that I feel could be better of having been shortened a tad as it feels like they beat it into the ground with little deviation.
The final track, "Holy Sperm Upon The Lambs," is where XPUS have their fatal flaw. It feels as though they are at this point merely rehashing previously used ideas and bring nothing new to the table. They do a funky thing towards the end where they trick you into thinking they've faded out the track, just to bring it back for just a few more moments before the final chord is struck. The closer, "Repentance, Forgiveness And Salvation," you hear a spectral choir weaving through with some distortion, fading out as it ends.
Overall, there are some really memorable passages and some cool shit done with effects like the chimes and vocals, but the highlights are outweighed by where the record is lacking. If you prefer your DM to be straight blast-beats and riffs, you may enjoy this album.
I"m giving In Umbra Mortis Sedent a 7/10
Comments