METAL MARK'S REVIEW OF FROM EXILE'S "MONOLITH"

"Atlanta's FROM EXILE is releasing their new CD "Monolith" to the masses this year and it's something all metal fans should definitely be on the lookout for. Since their last release, "Crushing Reality", the buzz around the band has been growing and they come with their best effort yet with "Monolith." Since the release of the first album, they have had numerous lineup changes, and guitarists Eric and Ben finally came together to record the new album this past year. From Exile recorded most of the CD with Eyal from DAATH, and even had Kevin Talley pounding the drum kit on every song of the new album. With this combination, you knew something special was going to happen, and "Monolith" is the result.

The disc starts off with "Arrival" which starts of slow and crashes in with a killer riff surrounded by amazing guitar solos. You already tell right from the beginning that this CD is going to be different from their previous release, but in an amazing way. The songwriting on this album is exceptional, and the first song has some of the best examples of that. The transitions between heavy riffs, dual guitar solos, slow breaks, and back to brutal riffs blows your mind. The lack of vocals is easily noticed, but the music is so intoxicating, there is no need for vocals on this track and some of the others on the CD.

Next on the album is my personal favorite track "Impure Visionary." The opening riff is intense and the vocals come in the background to create a full atmosphere of sound. The vocals remind you somewhat of some Mastodon, but fit the structure of the song perfectly. The acoustic guitar break of this song is simple but meaningful. It captures the whole song's essence perfectly in the short time it's in the song. Another amazing guitar solo comes in to melt your face, then another, and it's just incredible. If your a fan of amazing guitar playing, this song is right up your alley. The vocals come back in briefly and then more guitars to keep you playing air guitar till the end. Phenomenal.

The third track "Apparition" starts with eerie noises and a nice guitar part for almost two minutes. Just before the two minute mark, all instruments come in to take you on a journey you were not prepared for. It's the From Exile sound that everyone knows here in Atlanta, and soon everyone will know around the world. At the end of the song, DAATH's Emil Werstler throws in a sick solo to finish the song perfectly, so it's definitely worth listening to the whole song to catch it.

"Exhumed" comes in with a fury. Right from the start you have a brutal riff, ferocious drumming, and the vocals are there to pound the speakers with an unrelenting force. The guitars are flying on this song so fast, you will need more than one listen to understand exactly what is going on. This song has killer parts that will keep you banging your head and then it slams you with more amazing guitar work. From the thrashy riffs to the sludgy breakdowns, the guitars just take over this song and don't let go. Throughout the song, the vocals keep a vibe that I haven't heard in any other band. They are different, they are heavy, they are enchanting, you just have to hear it to believe me. With the last thunderous riff, the song fades out, leaving you breathless.

The next song "Veritas" is the shortest song, clocking in at a little over two minutes. An epic drumline begins the track with a nice guitar part, and then a killer riff comes in that makes you want to march into a foreign country and take it over. The drums fade out to leave you with a slow, magical guitar solo that slowly fades out till the end.

The opening riff on the next track "The Unlearning Dissent" is one of my favorite riffs I've ever heard this band put together. It's epic, there’s just no way around it, it's just beautiful. The riff continues with a nice solo put over the top after a minute and it's just a great part of this CD. No vocals on this track but there's no need. This track creates a story through the guitar parts and From Exile leaves it to the listener to make something of it. Great solo again at the end of the track, but that is no surprise. That's my favorite part about this band. They love the classic guitar solo's and do them better than most bands around right now.

The song fades perfectly into the title track "Monolith." This seven minute song is shockingly impressive. The guitar parts are so incredible, it goes beyond anything this metalhead could come up with. Once again the vocals are powerful on this song as with each song that features vocals on this album. This track has my favorite vocals, and I can't wait to hear this song live. This song travels through numerous riffs, yet each transition flows with ease, and this will be another thing that will get people's attention in the future. How they put so many different riffs together and it works to perfection is something bands have been trying to do for years and From Exile has mastered it. The drums are perfect in this song, because with each transition, the drums keep the flow of the song exactly. The keyboard parts in this song are beautiful, period. It's a great thing to hear keyboards in a metal song, and it works. Also, the amount of solo's in this song are overwhelming, but in a good way. I had to listen to this track about five times to catch everything I missed. It's such a well written song and may become a staple in the future of this band.

The last song on this album is "In The Faded Silence." It begins with a slow guitar part that if you close your eyes, it will take you on a journey. After about a minute a great riff blows through your speakers and once again you are like "Wow!" The solo over this riff screams across the track and leaves you dumbfounded. The talent of the guitar players is just incredible. Not too mention, the addition of DAATH's Eyal Levi putting in a solo that will blow your mind like it's never been before. Every solo is perfect, and it's take a lot for me to say that about any band. Holding the high notes for a period of this time in this track is epic, and then another wandering riff comes in and your head just moves with it, whether you want it to or not. The track fades out and it's over. You won't want this CD to end, but every good thing has to come to an end.

From Exile's "Monolith" is easily one of the best CD's I've personally heard in a long time. The little use of vocals is okay by me, because the guitar parts are what this band is about. I love guitar solo's, and this band gives me more than I could ever ask for on this CD. “Monolith” is out at fromexile.com, and I highly recommend you picking it up. From start to finish, this CD takes you on a musical journey I guarantee you haven't been on before. Put on headphones, close your eyes, and let the music take you away.

I can't wait to see what this band has in store for the future, but they should definitely have a strong voice in the way heavy music will be played in the future. Much respect and praises to the boys of From Exile for this cd.

The record is for sale now at FromExile.com or FromExile.Bandcamp.com, so pick it up now.
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