Excessum
The Battle has begun
11 Track Album
Released 3rd October 2012
Excessum - The Battle has Begun
Written for www.Dementedmagazine.com
Excessum – Mobile,
Alabama
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Excessum
Genre: Groove/Thrash
Metal
In the band’s
own words:
“Excessum isn't another run of the mill
local band. We aren't here to make anybody happy but ourselves. With that being
said, we love that our music has reached the ears of fans that know good music
when they hear it. We are always happy to hear that we have changed a life in
whatever small way.
Excessum formed in early 2011 with a much
different line-up and no idea how bumpy the road to success really is.
The band
started when guitarist, Tim Holloway and drummer, Dillon Winstanley met via a
mutual friend. Although originally, the band had 2 guitarists, Zach House
alongside Tim. But, because of creative differences, Zach decided to part ways
with Excessum. So, with Bryant Payne
on vocals (and no set bassist), Excessum
started recording their first album in late 2011 on through to early 2012 and
released it shortly thereafter. About a month before the band went on their
first tour to promote The Battle Has
Begun, Travis Hamlett was picked up to fill the role of bassist and has
stuck with the band ever since. Now working on the second studio album titled
To Hell We Fall, the band is now operating with Anthony Hare on vocals and
going harder than ever! After just finishing their second national tour, the
band now plans to soon start recording the material they have for their next
album which should be released in late 2013-early 2014”
Excessum live but a stone's throw from Demented Magazine’s owner the mighty
Jeff Grissett who has done so much for local bands by offering them a platform
to be seen and heard through “Demented”
– a metal magazine that gives you bands - not just from the USA but also around the world, with plenty more besides.
The Battle has
begun
A compelling
opening from the band as a determined voice of what is an Amy General’s powerfully
compelling motivational speech to his troops declaring “The battle has begun!”
And so it has - in the shape of Excessum.
The superb - Excessum
God Forbid
The thrash
element of Excessum is apparent as
this track thunders into action. Its
resonating rhythms pound furiously and holds within it a superb guttural growl
that sits on a tempestuous, rapturous beat and more than releases a hungry
insatiable groove to compliment it.
Be gone
A mesmerising
run of fast and powerful riffery comes into play here with a fierce chugging
that simply ignites its own spark as the gravelly vocal chants out the lyrics
in a grazing tone of destructive intensity, which is quite intriguing in its
own right.
Outcast
Explores a slow
plodding chug amid scintillating vocal flexibility and a corrosive energy that
works in perfect unison. It wraps itself around solid bass hooks and fluidly
expressive drum beats, although it isn’t a fast paced track to whirl the hair to,
it still has a good strong quality within its muscle bound structures.
War
A seductive and
compelling track that impressively gives the listener a gnarly beginning to
chew on. It is a very imaginative track with its deep grooves resonating
powerfully, building to a wonderful infusion of mesmeric hunger. Further on it
turns into a rabid and exhausting flurry of riffs that drive the track to its
limits and very addictive too!
Vicious Cycle
Enduring a more
fast paced rhythm this track does more than bruise as it explodes violently
into a distinctive melodic journey of rapturous grooves, that turn even feistier
further on in the track, and provides a suitable passionate savagery of assaulting
vocal splendour.
Ball of Clay
Another
turbulent track that feasts on the aural cavities, drenched in a powerful array
of constant rhythms. The predatory riffage will seduce you and carve a grisly path
of taunting infectiousness as the melodic strong arms open up to the catchy
grooves that in turn work towards the charging bull of blast beats and meets
you head on, to conclude its scorching intensity!
Take to the
Grave
This track has
a primal instinct as it malevolently moves prominently into attack mode,
however subtle! It certainly houses a dark side that is imposing as it is
powerful. The riffs flex like cheese
wire as the vocal compels with deadly ferocity.
Blessing in
Disguise
With a brewing
madness this track smothers you in building rhythms and infectious groove.
Bristling with a passionate scathing vocal and hard edge bass hook it raucously
delivers a striking and enjoyable track.
To Sum up:
A strong
compelling album that possesses a keen depth of punchy rhythms, scintillating
vocals, edgy bass hooks and skilfully created riffs that all come together
producing an unrelenting and energetic, fuel injected array of unbridled
passion.
It is typically
‘thrashy’ and bites deep with a professional quality about it. Delivering with impacting creativity, even acidic
in places and vocally unleashing a caged animal. Although there are deep thrash melodic grooves
contained within some of the tracks, it does however, hold a more ambiguous
side to slower, more brooding moments as in “Take to the Grave” so it is
slightly diverse and not just stuck
in the groove element, which does give the listener food for thought.
However, the
album more than attacks the surface, so it will be good to hear how their next
outing will sound, but there is little doubt that this is a killer album that
has got a lot of potential to garner high scores across the board. Weaving its
quality thrash grooves and commanding riffage to a high point and wastes no
time in showing its virulent edge that has been an enjoyable and abrasive
listening experience.
9/10
Track List:
The Battle has begun
God Forbid
Be gone
Outcast
War
Vicious Cycle
Ball of Clay
Take to the Grave
Blessing in Disguise
Members:
Bryant Payne - Vocals,
Tim Holloway - Guitar,
Dillon Winstanley - Drums,
Travis Hamlett - Bass
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