ALBUM REVIEW: Exalter - "Obituary For The Living"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 11/03/2016
Label: Transcending Obscurity

“Tortured Innocents” kicks things off and lets you know what the band are about: riffs, sandpaper vocals, time changes galore and an air of discordant menace present in the solos and general delivery.  This is top drawer thrash metal and will make you thrash ‘til you drop, guaranteed

“Obituary For The Living” CD//DD track listing:

1). Tortured Innocents
2). Surrounded by Evil
3). Sacrificial Immolation
4). Nuclear Punishment
5). Throat Cutters
6). Thrash Resurgence
7). White Phosphorus Shell

The Review:

Bangladesh may not be the first country you think of when you think “violent thrash metal”, but it joins its alphabetical compatriot of Brazil in making a strong case for it here. Simply put, this is rip roaring thrash of the early Sepultura/Kreator variety- but with more modern finesse, naturally. “Tortured Innocents” kicks things off and lets you know what the band are about: riffs, sandpaper vocals, time changes galore and an air of discordant menace present in the solos and general delivery.

Coming in with seven tracks, this is not the longest album of its type; but the band has played to their strengths. They have produced seven uniformly good songs, packed with excellent riffage and it must be noted that a little of this goes a long way. I don't spend all listening hours listening to violent thrash, but when I want to hear some I generally will stick on one record at a time. Next time I feel the urge, I may well reach for this nasty beast; tracks such as “Surrounded By Evil” and “Sacrificial Immolation” may make you do the same.

Thrash metal when taken on by countries that are not the USA is markedly different from the Bay Area originators. “Nuclear Punishment” may share the apocalyptic concerns of many of America's finest and even some of the riffs have a Testament flavour to them, but this clearly does not sound like American thrash, mixing as it does the South American and German preferences in its sound. “Throat Cutters” is a prime example of the band's evil sound, while “Thrash Resurgence” clearly paints a picture of what the band are trying to do here.

The deadly “White Phosphorus Shell” closes the record forcefully and even brings some political commentary into proceedings. With that, the record is over. This is top drawer thrash and could be just what you are looking for if you fancy some of what is described above. A record that will make you thrash 'til you drop, guaranteed.

“Obituary For The Living” is available here

Band info: facebook

RIYL: Sepultura, Kreator, Testament, Sodom