6th April 2025

Review: “Spectral Aggression” by Exorcism

There has long been an argument that the city of Birmingham is the home of Heavy Metal based on the fact that Black Sabbath are considered to be the first true Heavy Metal band, not to mention the place giving rise to the talents of Judas Priest, Napalm Death and Benediction to name but a few. That usually means that any outfit claiming the territory as their own gets a metaphorical leg up when they’re trying to break and enter however it doesn’t mean they’re a Doom or Traditional Heavy Metal outfit. The latest band to fit the narrative are Exorcism, a four piece who blend Death Metal fury with the aggressive tendencies of Thrash. Formed in the summer of 2023 they cite Slayer and Obituary amongst their collective influences and offer a debut EP in “Spectral Aggression” adorned by artwork from Dan Goldsworthy (Aborted, Sylosis, Inhuman Condition).

Recorded by Jake Murray (Frantic State, Grief Ritual, Peruvian Necktie) at Just Noise Audio, who also mixed alongside Julian Widdows before mastering by Connor Dalton at Glowcast, the record commences with the title track, a song soaked in old school nostalgia. The blistering riffs take us back to the bay area of San Francisco and the adrenaline pumping riffs of “Ride The Lightening” era Metallica however the typically English bark of vocalist and lead guitarist Freddie Widdows makes for a real point of difference. Unlike any number of vocalists one could name and shame, he doesn’t have an American accenting in his spiteful performance, instead spitting pure fire with a clenched fist in the land of hypocrisy. As a track, “Spectral Aggression” is utterly timeless, it could have appeared at any point over the past forty odd years and no one would have batted an eyelid, the band clearly making a style choice and sticking to their guns all the way. Their musicianship is impeccable and they have clearly done their homework with a classic tapping solo introducing “Burnt at the Stake“, the intensity of the opening cut matched stride for stride. A face melting solo in the mid section breaks up the head banging rhythms nicely and by the end you almost expect them to burst into a verse and chorus of “Creeping Death“, such is the nature of this beast. As we know, all the arsonists get the girls and “Strike of the Match” is a tale that tells us exactly why. Running from ghosts they offer flames as a way out while giving a glorious bass solo to Tom McIver mid cut, this adrenaline rush of a tune taking a leaf from the Sadistic Force playbook. Pounding rhythms from drummer Will Watson are clean and crisp as “Lost in the Dark” takes shape, the scream-a-long vocals of this one perfectly placed to make it a live favourite. As a record, this may not have anything about it that you haven’t heard before elsewhere but in all honesty, it is all done so well that you can’t help but enjoy every second [7/10]

Track Listing