It was just a little while ago that I was under the impression that Sacred Reich was going to provide the only massive comeback album that was going to be worthy of note this year, but it’s with great satisfaction that I was proven wrong when I learned that Exhorder was also coming back into the fold. They’re a name I have known and respected for some time now, but I’ve never gotten around to listening to them like the bafoon that I am. What better place to start than with fresh material, though? That’s what I thought going into this record and, easily, this is a throwback album meant for the modern age in every single way to where it’s made into an art.

I’ll be honest with you – it was until I saw the cover art for this spectacular album that I figured the record itself would sound like a throwback to the classic sound of thrash from which countless modern bands of the style draw from with each album. It made complete sense to me given Exhorder first came around when the classic vein of thrash was still going incredibly strong, but that’s not what we got with “Mourn the Southern Skies” as this band truly went all in for this comeback. There’s an extra level of ferocity and modern crunch to the mix that enables all ten tracks to become incredibly seductive in ways only thrash can as we’re granted a massive record that doesn’t know how to disappoint in the slightest form. Right from the beginning, it’s clear that Exhorder isn’t meant to leave any survivors with every track being a constant onslaught that’s the evilest way of satisfying. Every morsel that we’re treated to here is eaten right up with Exhorder knowing just how to make every proceeding course the exact thing that we can’t resist with every moment being filled with glory the likes of which we rarely get anymore and material that makes “Mourn the Southern Skies” a record that just knows how to deliver at every single feasible turn.

There are so many different albums that come out every year that can impress and surprise us with how good they are, and Exhorder definitely made one of the most surprising works of the year as I never was expecting anything close to what was done here. There’s no wall left standing nor a quiet street with no riot on it as “Mourn the Southern Skies” blasts and it’s a work that shows that even after calling it there’s no reason to even utter the word “never”.

“Mourn the Southern Skies” releases on September 21st via Nuclear Blast Records!

PRE-ORDER “Mourn the Southern Skies” via multiple sources here.

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