This time around, from the fertile underground of Italian metal music, Exence are storming onwards and taking no prisoners. Or that's what they wish for... A band called Essence was formed in 2000 and they released one demo, before changing their name to Exence. The name might be a bit weird, but does its job better than the former one, eh?

No matter what the name is, but I believe Exence can really shine out loud, if all currents work prosperously for them. The band's biggest influence is newer Death, especially the albums 'Symbolic' and 'The Sound of Perseverance' (1993 and 1995 respectively), but not just because the song 'Symbolic Act' tributes two songs from those albums. Death's more technical side, which really took the controls on 1991's 'Human', is what Exence want to do, and they do not hide the influence, but yield it with pride. And that basically is the right way to do it. Death are no more, so Exence carry on the legacy left by virtuoso Chuck Schuldiner. Add some down-tuned stylings and especially some thrashy stuff into the alloy and there you got what's Exence. They do sound up-to-date, but 100% metal. Their style is not unique by any means, but it is almost entirely adjusted for my ears. The songs offer fantastic journeys to the land of riffs and pecualiar yet functional rhythmic works, usually on the technical side of the things, but with some straight parts, which do not fracture the compositions at all. The technicality and the catchiness in perfect balance... The composer is guitarist Federico Puleri (about the fucking time I notice he also plays in Vision Divine, whose "Pule" albums I have in my collection...), and he really knows the axe and how to make it scream! And his tasty soloing must be mentioned too; also very memorable.

Talking about scream, the vocalist Massimiliano "Screamer" Pasciuto really screams his lungs out, if in a bit invariant way. Think about more high-pitched version of Chuck Schuldiner. But that high-pitchedness also means he sounds like Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy at some points. His voice really leaves a mixed feeling, something like of neuter gender. The lyrics, which mainly deal with reflecting personal, spiritual thoughts of a human being, are written in pretty bad English. Soundwise this is okay; the instruments are nicely heard, but more punch would... Well, give it even more punch! Anyways, the drums by Francesco "Breeze" Brizzi sound too machiney soundwise, and this causes the slight lack of power. He really can handle them, offering varying beats. The bass played by Mirko "BassBreaker" Serra is truly versatile. The cover promises more progressive metal, but that makes this experience even more powerful. Never judge any album by its cover...

Exence are a great acquaintance, especially for someone like me, who misses continuation for Death's works. Musically excellent, with some small defects around it otherwise, but many of which depend on listeners' tastes. One for those to try, who seek technical extreme metal. Beware, Exence might ensnare you! This one was 16 months in the works, so one might get some bad withdrawal symptoms.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
06/30/2009 22:15