EXTOMORF
“FURY”
Album Review by Lloyd Parkinson

7/10

After forming in the easy to pronounce and small town of Mezokovacsaza in Hungary, Ektomorf have been releasing their take on Groove Metal since 1993. Throughout their entire career the band have dominantly been compared to the Brazilian “Thrash Metal” titans Sepultura and its hardly surprising due to their musical similarities. However, unlike Sepultura the band have just been taking a minimalist stance on their music without any drive on progression or musical experimentation. Now, don’t get me wrong if you’re into Max Cavalera and the musical ventures that he has been involved in throughout his career then you will certainly enjoy this release. However, when it comes to listening to ‘Thrash Metal” like this it really doesn’t change the fact that this band don’t break any musical uniqueness what so ever.  And, with that being said, the music doesn’t really stick out to me when comparing this album to their previous release. One the best things about this album is that it is one of their most digestible releases to date and shows that simplicity is enough with little need of musical technicality. Regardless of that though it is still an enjoyable listen. The band know how to write a solid album and this proves that the band remain committed to their aesthetical style.

This album really does speak for itself and continues the band’s legacy through 10 blistering tracks that while providing tempo variations from devastating blast beats to slow groove filled riffs, remains hugely intense throughout its duration. “Fury” erupts into action like a firework with the first track entitled “The Prophet of Doom” which couldn’t be a more aesthetically brilliant way for Ektomorf to open this album. There’s also nothing better than opening the album with one of the fastest tracks on the entire album. The track begins with a seriously heavy palm-muted guitar riff before being exploding into an all-out “Thrash Metal” onslaught. It’s a simple track but doesn’t waste any time getting to the chorus section which is groove filled. However, if you are a fan of detailed and technical song writing then you will be disappointed with this first track as it does lack creative guitar work. The second track is completely different to the first and really does mix things up and it’s all for the right reasons. “AK47” blends a mixture of traditional “Thrash Metal” with sudden bursts of catchy punk and melody. This track reminds me a little bit of Devildriver’s musical characteristics due to its heavy rhythms and mid-tempo bounce. I’m sure that if this track ends up being played live then it will also create huge mosh-pits just like Devildriver too.

The highlight of this album for me is the title track “Fury” which keeps the propulsion and aggression consistently throughout. It is a track that packs a punch and does exactly what it says on the label. It really isn’t difficult to figure out that something has seriously angered the band with this track. A lot of their preceding work has expressed their hatred for racism and this is very similar. Its short, has a message and really does make an impact on the listener.

Throughout their 13 albums Ektomorf really have stayed on the same level in terms of production. Their music is contemporary, loud and corpulent. Ektomorf are clear on the music that they like to create and they stick to it with passion and aggression. “Fury” is by no means a technical album and lacks complexity but it’s more of a purification of the core base of Metal resulting in it being a far more accessible album than listening to genres like “Black Metal” or “Death Metal”. One of the things that I think lets this band down is that there is no differentiation between each album that they release and they mostly sound all the same. However, I do not necessarily think this is bad thing as its shows consistency and gives them a strong branding. This is an album that I would sincerely listen to repeatedly. The band present their different musical segments authentically without trying to present themselves as the most technical musicians but this allows them to reach their existing fanbase as genuinely as possible.

TRACK LIST

The Prophet of Doom
AK47
Fury
Bullet in Your Head
Faith and Strength
Infernal Warfare
Tears of Christ
Blood for Blood
If You’re Willing to Die
Skin Them Alive

http://www.ektomorf.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EktomorfOfficial/
twitter.com/EktomorfBand

BAND LINE-UP

Zoltán Farkas: Vocals and Guitars
Szabi Murvai: Bass
Tomi Schrottner: Guitars
Robert Jaksa: Drums

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