Album Review: Xoth - Exogalactic
Reviewed by Sam Jones
If there’s one band lately I’m glad I discovered it’s Xoth; The Seattle, United States-based band, formed in 2014, have only continued to be on their way up in recent years. Combining a swathe of styles from technical to blackened to thrash, Xoth are one band who consistently refuse to be boxed into some menial label and instead fully embrace who they are. Releasing their first full length work, Invasion Of The Tentacube, in 2016, it would be another three years before the band unleashed their much lauded 2019 sophomore album, Interdimensional Invocations, and truly broke through the mire of unheralded bands. Another four whole years on, Xoth finally return with their third album, Exogalactic. I was hyped to learn Xoth had come back with a new full length record and jumped at the opportunity to give it its time to shine. Releasing through independent means (amazing how Xoth still aren’t signed!), the band will see Exogalactic unleashed upon the public come November 3rd.
Xoth exploded out of the woodwork with their second full length work back in 2019, and I’m pleased to report Exogalactic stays the course for all things alien and remote. The riffs still harbour a keen space aesthetic as changes in riffs and licks possess an acutely cosmic vibe, easily played through the songwriting’s technical style. It’s one example by which a band may demonstrate their technical capability without it coming off as mere superficial skill. It doesn’t feel like these instances are included simply to show off the guitar playing, rather entwining it within the crux of the band’s personality. Once the record is done, it becomes impossible to imagine Exogalactic as harnessing anything other than the technical licks they include herein. It’s also nice to acknowledge that while the songwriting manages to include these technical elements throughout the record, the songwriting still changes enough for us not to become tired of their experimentation. It’s a very exciting and adventurous album in that regard, with each track showcasing some form of journey within its writing.
The band’s particularly cosmic aesthetic has become a staple to fans, yet throughout Exogalactic I felt like we’ve been on the receiving end of a prominently more blackened assault this time round. Now, the band have already infused our memory of them with their technical thrash from the first record yet it’s nice to see the band weren’t content with just replicating their recent record all over again. There’s definitely a different vibe flowing through their performance; it’s still just as ruthless and uncompromising as Xoth are renowned for delivering, only the riffs pierce with more glistening malice than they have done beforehand. When those technical pieces are implemented, they seemingly hold a place within the mix that’s enabled their stabbing prominence to reach us with fewer barriers in the way. Yet, this is extended to the more freeform guitar playing too for when tapping solos and licks are incorporated, their cosmic aesthetic feels all the more distilled. It’s as if Xoth wanted to really refine this album to ensure we can hear these pieces as clear as glass.
That notion of refinement feels familiar when considering the vocal work too. Xoth’s vocal performance has been something of a high point in my opinion, but Exogalactic feels like the band’s finest hour with their vocal performances. The dual delivery the band assault us with is seamless for while we recognise its two differing voices, they somehow manage to bleed into each other to the point where it can become tricky to discern one from the other. It’s may seem like a drawback, yet since the band can and do alternate so easily and rapidly between the two with zero drop in engagement or fun it makes for a more immersive listen. The vocals too exhibit that blackened sound too as one of the deliveries is certainly leaning towards that idea, but then you always have the other vocal performance to keep us grounded amidst the band’s more conventional thrash attack.
In spite of these details about the band’s aesthetic, it mustn’t be forgotten the band also really know how to play and write their thrash. Thrash is so inundated with bands it can be difficult to find one that knows how to do it properly, happily Xoth are one such band. While Xoth may assail us with flurries of technical proclivity and that blackened style permeates the entire performance, the band are forever reminding us they have an exemplary grasp on what constitute as quality thrash. At no point did my mind wander away, nor did I once think I’d heard this all before; Xoth’s thrash is naturally influenced by Nocturnus and other science fiction-based extreme metal acts, but their songwriting flows with such ease it may as well be water. Their thrash attack feels less like a segmented, step by step process and more along the lines of taking their audience upon some twisted journey. I believe this is why listening to them play felt so comfortable since their songwriting evolves with the timing of when they know something needs to change. Each track not only possess something unique to the rest but also ends in a different place than it began in. Throw in feelings of fun, melody, aggression etc and Xoth are on to an absolute winner here.
In conclusion, Xoth’s third full length is a storming release that absolutely champions and succeeds on all fronts, even surpassing what 2019’s Interdimensional Invocations did. While that record is a fantastic experience, I feel like Exogalactic, as an entire album from start to finish, is the superior product as crafted by Xoth. It’s easily their finest and most professionally crafted work yet, that infuses seamlessly the technical ability Xoth are known for whilst still providing a searing thrash performance that’s evidently the band’s own without feeling like they’re having to lean on to a crutch for influence. That’s not to state this record is just a roar in your face, because Xoth manage to instil a grand sense of journey and adventure into their sound. This is not a straight up thrash record even if one were to remove the technical edge; the band have seen to it their performance embodies all the benefits of fun and joy and pacing to ensure Exogalactic is filled with life. That’s the best thing I can deem about this record: it’s absolutely bristling with enthusiasm and passion and Xoth are a band in their way up. I utterly adored this record. Without a doubt amongst the strongest thrash works of 2023.
