FRENZY FIRE

   

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

   
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Spiritual Exodus

   
       
       
       
     
             
Exorcizphobia are a thrash metal band from the Czech Republic formed in 2005, releasing four albums to date - 'Something Is Wrong' (2012), 'About Us Without Us' (2018), 'Digitotality' (2020), and 'Spiritual Exodus' (2023).    
             
Formed by guitarist and vocalist Tomas Skorepa, the band has seen its fair share of personnel changes - the current line-up consisting of Ondrej Sima (guitar), Tomas Kejkrt (drums), Ales Kostka (bass), and of course (the ever present) Skorepa. Over the years, the band has played across Europe, and performed with numerous bands such as Artillery, Exodus, Napalm Death and D.R.I. to name just a few! Exorcizphobia play fast - very fast! Their brand of thrash metal is a meld of Metallica, Slayer, and Exodus - the bands new album an exhilarating eight song thunderstorm. And all in under forty minutes too...    
             
...album opener 'Initiation' coming to life with an effects laden intro, building a menacing crescendo of thunder, whetting the anticipation levels of listeners to the edge of a knife, finally exploding in a ferocious fireball of aggressive thrash! The power, purpose and intent is incredible, the band sounding like a pissed off Anthrax - 'Initiation' relentlessly marching on! And keeping the pedal firmly pressed to the metal, 'Violence And War' is an unforgiving, high velocity barrage of savagery to violently bang heads and wreck necks! The opening double has been exhilarating, getting the heart racing of every metalhead in the world - Exorcizphobia an untamed force of nature!    
             
And maintaining the albums thrash come speed metal fest, 'Reflections' races off into the distance with savage intentions - yet an air of the melodic style of thrash metal rises high in the air! The melodic style of such bands as Death Angel and Flotsam And Jetsam, the Czech four-piece echoing perfectly the American style of thrash. With adrenaline flowing faster and faster, 'Spiritual Exodus' storms on with 'Down The Rabbit Hole', causing mosh pits all over the world to erupt in a head banging frenzy! The band are delivering classic sounding thrash metal that's overpowering yet delicious - Exorcizphobia a twenty year old band that I have only heard for the very first time this year! There's just so many bands out there, it's physically impossible to know 'em all - the album taking a menacing turn with 'Those Who Oppose', a mighty foot stomping attitude taking over the airways! Crushing skulls and breaking bones, 'Those Who Oppose' is mid tempo, aggression fuelled in your face thrash! That is until a blistering change of pace half way through! Incredible!    
             

Red hot scorching speed lights up the album in the shape of 'Ring-Pass-Not', a fiery feast of all out brutality! The aggression level too, has just rocketed right off the fucking charts, the band carving a savage path across the land, destroying everything in its path to leave only desolation behind! The breath taking nature of 'Ring-Pass-Not' is phenomenal, 'Spiritual Exodus' storming on at pace with 'Through A Glass Darkly' - a thundering tsunami of thrash sweeping through the air! Pace and tempo changes abound, Exorcizphobia keeping the listener guessing as to which way 'Through A Glass Darkly' will turn next. The album is brought to a close with the seven minutes plus 'Tiwanaku', and a glorious final hurrah opening with sound effects over an eerie guitar line. Building the tension, 'Tiwanaku' keeps the eeriness front and centre, a crushing crescendo landing like a wrecking ball in full flight - the band reining in the power and pace with incredible precision. And as the song progresses, two things - power and pace is let loose in fits and starts, with 'Tiwanaku' turning out to be an instrumental!

   
             
Overall, a fiery burst of intense thrash metal with high levels of savagery and aggression along with an immense level of head bang ability.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top