Review: “Imperitous March For Abysmal Glory” by Exitium

While shrouded in a cloak of darkness that conceals their identities, Italian Blackened Death Metal quartet Exitium begun their rise to prominence in 2021, their original line up including former members of Skorbutiks, Apocryphal and Hypnotheticall as they unleashed single “Hammering the Walls of Grace”. That black laced Metal abrasion opened the door to some Italian gigs supporting Fleshgod Apocalypse, Imperial Triumphant and Suffocation to name but a few before a year later found a change at the drum stool with a former member of Membrance now gracing it. An ambitious lyrical concept about an obscure civilization located under the earth’s crust and malicious external entities is the subject of their debut album “Imperitous March For Abysmal Glory”, said to be influenced by many masters of the craft including Deicide, Mgla and Inquisition…

From the outset of “Imperitous March For Abysmal Glory” it’s easy to see why Exitium were granted such early glories on stages in their homeland with the darkly atmospheric introduction piece “Incomb” setting tone for the skull crushing “Rooted in Blackened Soil” and confirming what kind of band they are. A lethal dose of Italian hatred inspired by the golden age of 90’s American Death Metal, the opening cut proper is a instant classic of ramping sinister edged riffs wedged between chest bursting blasting sections that shatter any illusion that the band is merely a gimmick. The cloaked aesthetic adds a sense of theatre that reinforces the power off the demonic vocal parts in the final moments, enhancing their other worldly feel. From one bone rattling tune to another “Abyss Wolf” has plenty of bark and bite with a hauntingly evil solo adding a menacing undertone before the band race away… like wolves on the hunt, with the sent of blood in their nostrils. A vicious little ditty largely delivered at breakneck speed, it’s a sure fire winner for old school American Death Metal fans, as is the first cut the band ever presented to the World in “Hammering The Walls of Grace“. This one has more of a Groove Death feel as it pummels the ear drums into submission, the immense blasting passages giving legends like Kevin Talley (Chimaira, Suffocation, Dying Fetus) a run for their money.

The real surprise on the record is instrumental “Ephemeral” which has cinematic stylings, a fitting soundscape to a dark and melancholic movie scene that sounds like the thoughts of a serial killer in a fleeting moment of regret before sharpening the blades of Death once more. Powerful and unnerving with the screams of the damned buried in the mix, it is a genre master class that confirms why instrumentals are generally underrated. Having refreshed the palate, “The Sinister Sedition” then strikes a new chord offering some melodic touches in between passages of brutality that confirm there is more to the bands abilities than meets the eye. If this is the direction which future offerings may follow then the bands sound will evolve into a more Extreme Metal direction with influences from the likes of Cradle Of Filth rearing their ugly head and that would be an intriguing prospect. “Led by a Scornful Hand” follows suit while offering a stunning face melter of a solo which is extended underneath a verse, helping to build a sense of epic grandeur to accompany its foreboding musings. Orchestrated introduction piece “Ab Aeterno” then gives an unexpected cinematic overture that will no doubt serve as an introduction to the bands live set at some point before two skull crushing final onslaughts round the album out in style.

The first of those is “Spoils Of Defilement“, a cut that sonically fits between the earlier brutality and more refined mid section of the album. Powerful percussive battery provides a violent storm of aggression upon which the guitars fly, the unclean vocal savagery kept deliberately sparse in places to allow the instrumental elements to shine. A monster which grows in strength from humble beginnings as it plays out, “Dieu El Veut!” is the grand finale that is promised and richly deserved, adding gang chanted fist pumping moments to the blistering riffs while also having more than a few nuances to sustain the album over multiple listens. A spoken word passage is a nice touch although partially buried in the mix it takes some deciphering but this is far from a blunt force trauma. It has to be said that the quality of the recording is perfect and the mix has been well and truly nailed, the drum sound clean and crisp, while the guitars cut like a hot knife through butter, touching the very soul. An album with a lot of quality that flows nicely, gradually growing in momentum this is a raging inferno of an album that will seduce like Medusa if you let it [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Incomb (Introduction)
2. Rooted in Blackened Soil
3. Abyss Wolf
4. Hammering The Walls of Grace
5. Ephemeral (Instrumental)
6. The Sinister Sedition
7. Led by a Scornful Hand
8. Ab Aeterno (Instrumental)
9. Spoils of Defilement
10. Dieu II Veut!

“Imperitous March For Abysmal Glory” by Exitium is out 12th May 2023 via Time To Kill Records and is available over at bandcamp