The general nastiness of death metal is something that the style has been known for decades at this point, and it’s a pre-requisite for any band of the style more than anything. But, that doesn’t mean it’s done well by many or even easy to pull off by any means whatsoever as is the case with countless of acts that are constantly coming out of the rooting log of goodness that is the underground. Bursting forth with plenty of talent and capability, it’s with their upcoming full-length that Xpus surprises here.

Having only put out a single full-length album before this five years ago, it might be understandable to expect the occasional stumble or such when diving into the flesh-eating depths of “In Umbra Mortis Sedent”. Rather, we’re treated to a well-seasoned work that shows us really quickly that those five years weren’t spent sitting around with Xpus sticking their thumbs up their asses as each track that’s on display here, intro and outro included, shows us expertise that doesn’t come out of a stagnation of any kind. We can really hear the gears turning inside the minds of Xpus for the whole of “In Umbra Mortis Sedent”, and the only thing more mechanical than that is how ferocious their sound is through every blood-drenched second of this album such that it’s impossible for any fan of death metal to not lap up at the soonest moment. Xpus does not have an over-reliance on riffs that many other bands have as they can easily show us that they’re far more capable of bringing us invigorating death metal that constantly keeps up coming back for more as it’s just as blasphemous and nasty as one could ask for, and every moment of “In Umbra Mortis Sedent” capitalizes on it at every opportunity that it’s given.

This is the festering mass of putridity that death metal fans are always clamoring for, and it goes without saying that Xpus has met the criteria to astound just about every listener as they delve into the catacombs that this band has come to infest by the end of this record. So much of “In Umbra Mortis Sedent” is what’s needed in every death metal fan’s diet, and it satisfies and delivers on every level such that it’s a treat that just keeps on giving with every single spin.

“In Umbra Mortis Sedent” releases on April 24th via Transcending Obscurity Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “In Umbra Mortis Sedent” on Bandcamp here.

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