Time Signature
Are you deaf...?
Genre: thrash metal
2012 is a good year for Exumer fans. Not is it the year of the release of the band's third album, 2012 also sees the reissue of Exumer's two first albums which are true cult thrash metal releases. Hopefully this move by End of the Light Records will introduce these "Possessed by Fire" from 1986 and "Rising from the Sea" from 1987 to a new generation of thrash metal fans. The reissue version of "Rising from the Sea" features the three tracks from the 1989 demo "Whips & Chains" so that really is a goodie.
Anyway, on "Rising from the Sea" Exume build on the Metallica-meets-Exodus style from the debut album, which means that the songs evolve around repeated compact riffs but with a number of changes and shifts between a good handful of riffs and passages per song. So all is good in that department.
However, compared to "Possessed by Fire" which was more speed metal oriented, "Rising from the Sea" takes a more brutal turn, and, although the Teutonic speed metal elements are still there, it seems that Exumer have taken more inspiration from Slayer as well as the more aggressive hardcore-informed styles of thrash metal that developed in the late 80s. Thus we find blastbeats in 'Ascension Day' and 'Are You Deaf', the latter of which is almost like an extended crossover/thrashcore microsong.
In addition, Mem Von Stein had been replaced by Paul Arakari on bass and vocals after the release of "Possessed by Fire", which means that Von Stein's more hysterical thrashy vocals have been replaced on "Rising from the Sea" by Arakari's harsher and more hardcore-oriented singing style. Arakari's voice is darker and more aggressive than Von Stein's and this is definitely one of the reasons why this album is more brutal than the debut.
The bonus tracks which, as mentioned, are taken from the "Whips & Chains" album indicate a change in musical direction, as Exumer have chosen to follow the tech thrash path that has always been hiding somewhere in the background in their music. Thus, the three tracks are technical, melodic and progressive and, to be honest, extremely good - especially because they do retain the crunching brutality of the Exumer sound.
Like "Possessed by Fire", the reissue of "Rising from the Sea" is recommended to any fan of authentic old school thrash metal.