By DJ Monk
Swiss newcomers Exess gleefully admit that they have deliberately sought to blend genres on this, their debut nine-track album. And they certainly have succeeded, as ‘Deus Ex Machina’ references a number of miens – although quite what they mean by “common metal” still escapes me at the end of it.
Despite their melding of various styles, there nevertheless is consistency to the overall sound, especially in terms of the punchy bass and percussive rhythms which drive the songs forward, and in the gothic tinge to Céline’s vocals, which have an ethereal quality which gives the material a lightness of touch which could otherwise be lost in the density of some of its heavier moments.
If I had to shoehorn Exess into one particular pigeonhole, it would be what has become what has become the fairly all-encompassing descriptive that has come to be known as alt-rock, as it mixes crunching riffs with big harmonies and powerful melodies and has its eye on grander ambitions.
Standout tracks, for me, are the opener, and lead single, ‘Not An Eternal Day’, which sets the mood for what is to come extremely well, and the huge ‘Feel The Right Hand’, which builds the midpoint tension like a smouldering volcano – and has a very clever little false ending – which actually, if moved down the track listing, would have brought the album to a very effective finale. However, as it is the faux-symphonic DM of ‘Nothing Is Left’ (Céline’s voice doesn’t quite have the operatic timbre to carry off the former aspect, while whoever contributed the death growls equally lacks the appropriate menace) and the lacklustre, lifeless cover of ‘Sleeping Satellite’ serve to end proceedings on something of a downer.
‘Deus Ex Machina’ won’t win any awards, and it more than likely will not bother many end of year polls (except possibly in the land of cuckoo clocks and Toblerone), but it is, with the two exceptions noted, a well-crafted and well-presented album. The songs are well-constructed, with plenty of layering but also an inherent simplicity which maintains their attraction, and superbly performed, and the overall effect is offset by a generous and precise production, which draws out all its inherent elements.
- ‘Deus Ex Machina’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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