I’ve been trying to figure out how I want this introduction to go. There are times when I get an album to review and it’s like a blind date. That’s not always the case especially if I’ve at least heard or read something about them. But with Xoth I’m going in blind as a bat.

Sometimes blindness is a good thing because until now I had never heard of Xoth. I checked out the label description and thought “hey! This might be good”! Let me tell you a fucking story; it’s better than good, Exogalactic is a fucking Technical Death Metal experience that will send your mind into a tizzy. I’m not bullshitting either, from the serpentine opener “Reptilian Bloodsport” with a riff that will remind you of why of you got into Death Metal in the first place. This riff twists around the blast beats with a venomous intensity.

I also get a heavy-duty feeling of Keep of Kalessian with this album, it could be the way the clean vocals come together with harsh growling on “Sporecraft Zero”. The soaring guitars and building intensity takes the track to a whole other level and do you get to rest before being bludgeoned again? Fuck no. “The Parasitic Orchestra” and the pummeling, little bit Exmortus-y “Saga of the Blade” a head-down thrasher that’s sure to get the pits going at the festivals this coming season. “Reflective Nemesis”, “Battlesphere” and the galloping steed of the closer “Map to the stars, Monument to the Ancients”. This album ends in triumphant fashion… and then it’s time to hit play again because you notice different things in the songs you didn’t before. Exogalactic is that amazing of a Modern Technical Death Metal album.

Closing time, constant reader. This album has gotten me through an abysmal week, fraught with yelling and seeing people’s true colors. As I write this, Exogalactic is finally out, so why are you still reading?  Go get it!

[Visit the band's website]

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