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Canada’s own symphonic death metal band Ex Deo are finally returning with a new EP ‘Year of the Four Emperors’, four years after their last album. The successful project, founded by the frontman of Kataklysm Maurizio Iacono who is diving back into his roots, follows the vision of telling the history of the Roman Empire, and this time round is focusing on the chaotic events of AD 69.
Each of the four songs on the album is named after one of four emperors, who ruled over the Roman Empire in AD 69, starting off with Emperor Galba, which is also the longest track. Followed up by the rise and fall of Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian, Iacono’s vocals, complimented by guitarists Jean-François Dagenais and Stéphane Barbe, bassist Dano Apekian and drummer James Payne, are delivering the major historic moments in a unique, yet sometimes almost intimidating form.
As we can tell throughout the EP, and specifically in the first track, the band plays a lot with the narrative - making the music more melodic and sometimes symphonic in the spoken word verses, and going straight into heavier sounds whenever there is action. The second and third songs are heavier in their nature, but still retain the melodic sensibilities of earlier, and the last song consists primarily of screams and heavy tones, recounting the events of Vespasian’s acquisition of the throne.
The highlight track on this project is the opener, with its usage of ancient instruments such as the lituus, the curved war-trumpet, whenever Otho is calling out for Galba’s head. Paired with the vocals and modern instruments, it's incredibly pleasing to the ear and takes the listener right into the heart of the events.
The EP is a strong return for the group, as the band continues to tell the stories of the Ancient Rome whilst pushing their own boundaries within music further. The usage of different melodies really gives their music life, and the work put into this project is spectacular and certainly delivers an excellent experience, with a mixture of sounds that is going to leave the listener longing for more.
‘Year of the Four Emperors’ will be released on January 10th via Reigning Phoenix Music.
Words: Katerina Stepanikova
Photo: Ex Deo