Review by Ben for Exumer - Possessed by Fire (1986)

Exumer were previously unknown to me, but I thought I'd give it a shot due to the decent rating it gets on this site and the comparisons to Sodom, a band a quite enjoy. After a few spins of their debut album Possessed by Fire, I've found it to be a simplistic yet mildly entertaining release. What these German thrashers lack in technicality they make up for in spirit, with good energy and an unexpectedly nice production. There are some great riffs spread throughout the album that pop up just when I start to feel a little underwhelmed, bringing my attention back to what is slightly above average thrash.

Yet for every good riff, there's an equally dull, uninspired one and there's absolutely nothing original about Exumer's work, with many sections reminding me of tracks from other more well-known bands. The choruses have a habit of just repeating the track title a few times before we're back into verse territory. But somehow this album, with all these flaws and by-the-numbers song structures, manages to entertain and excite. The vocals are a mix of Mille Petrozza from Kreator, Megadeth's Dave Mustaine with a touch of Paul Baloff, which may sound awful but is ok. The album is definitely top-heavy, with the second half falling away a little after a solid beginning. Still, Possessed by Fire is a recommended listen for anyone who just can't get enough 80s European thrash metal. Highlights for me are Possessed by Fire and the fantastic Fallen Saint.