When death metal is performed by Italians, I know for a fact it’ll sound brutal, heavy, and balls to the wall pumping your fists in the air until it gets sore. Xpus are a new band for me I’ve discovered and seeing them join the Transcending Obscurity Records roster made me wanna dive into their music and Jesus Christ, I was not kidding. If Incantation, Krisiun, Deicide and Cruciamentum were to join forces creating the most diabolical, powerful and ambitious Death Metal material this is what Xpus is.
From the band’s traditional fast paced musical sounds, mean guitar riffs, disgusting vocal patterns and fantastic musicianship fully displayed, this monster is relentless beginning to end. It’s got accessible instrumentals, well complimented acts, comprehensive songwriting, ministered production and recognized narrations from the old school death metal bands throughout the late 80’s to the 90’s have definitely expanded themselves in remembrance to bring definitive statements for death metal as a whole.
Musically and lyrically, the overall tone is faster, reliable and builds interludes a fully capable and equipped with the legitimized art form and festivities known to death metal today. In Umbra Mortis Sedent is a pummeling, gratifying and graveyard crawl-like death metal album that will keep the listener’s seat strapped in if they want something unique and creative then Italy’s Xpus will certainly be the band for fans of the genre!
Overall Score: 8.5/10
Review by Jake Butler
