siLLy puPPy
EXUSSUM formed in 2004 and is the only death metal band i’m aware of that has emerged from Grand Junction, Colorado which is located on the western end of the state. This band has released several EPs and one full-length but other than its own Bandcamp site, it’s hard to find samples of its music. This second EP titled EXITIUM PER IGNIS is the earliest one i can check out and it is a six track EP that races past the 21 minute mark but no further.
This is old school death metal all the way however with a slight blackened darkness and a grindcore ferocity. There are three musicians: Impaler on drums, Drucifer on bass and Attis on guitars and vocals. The main inspiration is clearly from the early Morbid Angel years where caustic chugging guitar riffs and occasional squeals and brief solos burn down the house. The bass and the drums are equally dynamic and there are no moments of slowing down. This is a chugging riff-fest the entire duration with Attis sporting his best guttural growls from the bowls of hell vocal style.
This is all extremely well played and would’ve sounded like it came out in 1991-92 era as the production is muddy and definitely sounds like a home project which gives it a raw retro feel. While sometimes these types of projects are acceptable, for the case of this EP at least, it all sounds very generic and a definite sense of been there, done that. These guys have mastered the cloning process thoroughly but don’t offer a lick of originality. This is a decent EP for sure but it’s obvious that the band needed a bit more time for some self-seasoning. A good release that won’t blow anyone away who is already a fan of death metal classics.