Xerath - I (2009)^{Release ID: 27411}

It was only around the time Xerath reformed a year before this review when I started listening to this band. Since the beginning, they've been signed to Candlelight Records and have unleashed their epic extreme sound to the world. Their debut was released in 2009, and it never disappoints!

Film score-style orchestra is mixed with Meshuggah-infused djenty grooves without sounding so forced. Kinda like Mechina without the futuristic cyber metal. The relentless heaviness of the guitars punches its way through the orchestral grandeur of choirs and strings. As a result, we something so brutal and glorious at the same time. The djenty machinery is just part of a greater soundscape of textures.

One of the best album openers is "Intrenity" in which emotional strings lead into intense riffing crashing in, showing a sign of what's to come. "Alterra" has some strong groove that might remind some more of Pantera. Another highlight "Nocturnum" has a lovely acoustic bridge with female siren-like singing throughout the second half.

The only track that slightly bothers me is "Consequences" which is fine but needs an extra kick. The orchestral "Interlude" has nice melody. And there's more melody in "False History", even in that djenty riffing. It also has a mighty chorus and soloing.

The riffing in "Abiogenesis" is as destructive as an earthquake, while the orchestral side stands in triumph. "Reform" is an 8-minute epic split into two parts. I don't have any word to describe this epic other than massive. Maybe even supermassive, or monolithic. Another one of the most f***ing epic tracks here is "Right to Exist". There's more variation in the riffing, and the cinematic symphonics that often take the front stage never sound weak at all.

All in all, Xerath I is an amazing album. This is pure greatness in the epic extreme metal realms. The band would make two more albums before their 7-year split, and I'm more motivated to check them out, thanks to this album's vengeance and grace!

Favorites: "Intrenity", "Nocturnum", "False History", "Reform" (both parts), "Right to Exist"