PESTILENCE — Exitivm (review)

PESTILENCE — Exitivm album cover Album · 2021 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Kev Rowland
Dutch metal outfit Pestilence are back with their ninth studio album, although there has been a significant line-up change since 2018’s ‘Hadeon’ with only founder guitarist and singer Patrick Mameli still there. Over the years there have been a few musicians through the ranks, but he has been the constant, and is now joined by Joost van der Graaf (bass), Rutger van Noordenburg (guitars), and Michiel van der Plicht (drums). Due to the pandemic, Pestilence were unable to fully capitalise on the last album, and it was this which caused the other members of the band to quit, but Mameli decided to go the other way and write something darker and heavier and bring together new musicians to fulfill his vision.

Pestilence were initially formed in 1986, although they took a break in 1994 before being resurrected in 2008, then stopping again in 2014 before kicking off again a few years later. It’s not possible to keep a good band down apparently. Over the years they have been through different musical styles, always very heavy, and with this release they are focusing on technical death metal with complex rhythms and patterns throughout. Michiel is an animal behind the kit, utilising double kick pedals and complex rolls when the time is right, while at others being more straightforward and even having micro breaks if that is what is needed to emphasise what is happening in front of him. Rutger is an accomplished lead guitarist who enjoys taking the solos when the opportunity arises but for the most part this is about two guitars and a bass being totally linked while Mameli gruffly provides the vocals.

There is a strong sense of dynamics throughout the album, with little effects being used here and there to allow the music to always stay heavy and not fall into the background. The result is a death metal album which may not be totally essential but is a damn good listen all the same. 
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed