Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/exterminatus-echoes-from-a-distant-star-part-1-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Exterminatus – Echoes From a Distant Star Part 1 Review</a></p><p><i>By Owlswald</i></p><p>“Exterminatus” is a <em>Warhammer 40k</em> term that describes a global mass extinction event authorized by the emperor when the Imperium deems the cost of holding or retaking a planet too high. While I’m naïve about such things, Canadian fivesome <strong>Exterminatus</strong> certainly isn’t. And these Canucks are here to incinerate your eardrums with a heavy dose of sci-fi inspired tech-death. Originally demoed in 2012, <em>Echoes From a Distant Star Part I</em> was to be the follow-up to <strong>Xenocide</strong>’s debut album, <em>Galactic Oppression</em>. However, the group disbanded before they completed the album, and its members—including most of the original lineup—subsequently formed <strong>Exterminatus</strong>. Thirteen years later, these Vancouverites have released two solid albums and are finally prepared to relaunch <em>Echoes</em> after recording and re-recording the material three times. Seeking to venture into deep space through a celestial narrative that investigates interstellar creation and its obscure realities, I’m left wondering if the destination justifies the voyage.</p><p>Raising the pace and intensity of its predecessors, <strong>Exterminatus</strong> mostly operates in overdrive on <em>Echoes</em>, peppering the limited moments of empty space with <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/the-faceless-autotheism-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Faceless</strong></a>-esque grooves and melodic leads. Lead by the dual axe attacks of Tabreez Azad and Elia Baghbaniyan, the duo warps the fabric of reality with their percussive shredding, laser-fire tremolos, and technical articulation, flicking and tapping for thirty minutes across the album’s seven chapters.<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/exterminatus-echoes-from-a-distant-star-part-1-review/#fn-215410-1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1</a> Together with Max Sepulveda’s (<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/the-zenith-passage-datalysium-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>The Zenith Passage</strong></a>) ruthless drumming, the trio dominate the record’s linear mix, occasionally permitting Lucas Abreu’s virtuosic basslines to break through the wall of crushing brutality (“The Cloud,” “Suffer in Silence”). Lukas Bresan’s heavy <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/archspire-bleed-the-future-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Archspire</strong></a>-like growls provide additional gravity as they narrate Echoes’ grand planetary saga. Drawing inspiration from the famous works of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, as well as the Stargate SG-1 and Mass Effect franchises, <strong>Exterminatus</strong> explores the universe’s fundamental forces through the familiar and technical movements of tech-death’s stalwarts.</p><p></p><p><strong>Exterminatus </strong>thrive when they back off the accelerator and use their technical expression to manipulate the cosmos in a manner that boosts <em>Echoes</em>’ groove-rich currents. Closer “The Signal,” is a no-frills banger that finishes with a savage dose of syncopated thrash riffs and agile drumming that aptly finds the balance between brutality and accessibility. Abreu’s playful bass lines at the onset of “Cosmic Disturbance” conveys its ominous warning with finesse, while the pulse-driven riffing of the song’s end hits with the power of a supernova. Meanwhile, the heroic solo before the launch of “Starbound” or the melodic leads of “The New Theia” provide moments of respite around outbursts of cosmic turbulence. Though <em>Echoes</em>’ highlights are generally not as memorable as I would like, there are enough amidst the onslaught of staccatos, pummeling double bass, and light speed shifts to provide necessary touchstones and avoid a full system overload.</p><p></p><p>Still, <strong>Exterminatus</strong>’ ambitious pursuit fares better in concept than in execution. Track sequencing and songwriting diminish <em>Echoes</em>’ voyage, hindering the whole with abrupt openings and sudden descents that disrupt the journey. Songs like “Primordial Sea,” and “The New Theia” suffer from bloat, while “Suffer in Silence” and “The Signal” seem truncated. Accordingly, <em>Echoes</em> feels more academic than vibrant, a collection of separate tracks that are challenging to connect with, rather than an absorbing cosmic saga. Additionally, the production sacrifices nuance and emotion for volume and intensity, thereby crushing any promise of dynamics. The overly loud mix is too aggressive—particularly the drums and guitars—which fatigued my ears and became frustrating. Likewise, <strong>Exterminatus</strong>’ reliance on tropey bass drops to replace the lack of energy in <em>Echoes</em>’ peak moments are a distraction, achieving the opposite of their intended effect.</p><p>Despite years of development, <em>Echoes</em> doesn’t hit its mark. <strong>Exterminatus</strong> clearly possess the talent to create something special, and their commitment to crafting an ambitious, sci-fi narrative is commendable. However, the album’s songwriting and production prevent it from reaching its potential, serving instead as a demonstration of what they are capable of. What <em>Echoes</em> lacks in cohesion, it partly compensates for in technical expression and sheer sonic intensity. But if <strong>Exterminatus</strong> can refine the issues that hinder <em>Echoes</em>, their next venture into the cosmos could be great indeed.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> Mixed<br><strong>DR:</strong> 4 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 256 kbps mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> Self-Released<br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="https://exterminatus.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-from-a-distant-star-part-i" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">exterminatus.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/exterminatusband/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/exterminatusband</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> April 18, 2025</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2-5/" target="_blank">#25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/apr25/" target="_blank">#Apr25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/archspire/" target="_blank">#Archspire</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/canadian-metal/" target="_blank">#CanadianMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/echoes-from-a-distant-star-part-1/" target="_blank">#EchoesFromADistantStarPart1</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/exterminatus/" target="_blank">#Exterminatus</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/self-released/" target="_blank">#SelfReleased</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/technical-death-metal/" target="_blank">#TechnicalDeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/the-faceless/" target="_blank">#TheFaceless</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/the-zenith-passage/" target="_blank">#TheZenithPassage</a></p>