Metalcatto
I don’t know what Willowtip Records is cooking most of the time, but somehow they keep delivering. So when Eximperitus – Meritoriousness of Equanimity (what does that even mean?) landed in my mailbox, for once I actually had expectations. I knew next to nothing about the band, and judging by the lack of noise around them, this still feels like a fresh act in an already hostile scene. Fearing I might be getting ahead of myself, I dove into uncharted territory hoping to find gold—like a proper colonialist—but enough context, let’s start the plunder.
At first, I assumed Meritoriousness of Equanimity was going to be nothing more than punishing, godless Brutal Death Metal. I was very wrong. This album is surprisingly hard to describe. Imagine Archspire and Origin having a baby and somehow making it sound more proggy—that’s roughly what we’re dealing with here. It’s relentless savagery, sure, but with more brains than a physics textbook. The album is unpredictable, yet all its strange components fit together remarkably well. You don’t even need patience, because it starts throwing curveballs at you before you ever get the chance to feel comfortable.
Don’t let the blistering speed and face-melting intensity fool you either. This album actually makes room for interesting and satisfying interludes that add real dimension to the chaos. Tech Death has been accused of being soulless more times than I can count, but that argument doesn’t hold up here. There’s a lot of “feeling,” or whatever less academically inclined listeners call it when music hits without needing a dissertation in shredding theory. Every time Meritoriousness of Equanimity threatens to become numb or overwhelming, it abruptly shifts gears and catches you off guard.
As usual, I should probably find something to complain about, but it’s genuinely difficult when an album manages this level of consistency while still offering so much variety. If I really have to nitpick, the production might be a bit too loud for my ears, and the band occasionally leans a little too hard into sheer heaviness for its own sake. Still, those are minor issues when weighed against the overall quality on display. Oh, and yes, the track titles are absolutely ridiculous. I won’t even pretend I tried to memorize or write them down. You’ll know them when you see them, and probably laugh.
So if you’re looking for something audacious yet still listenable—something not as abstract as Dodecahedron, nor as numbing as generic Brutal Death—then Eximperitus has an album that will punch your head straight through your own butt. You just pictured that, didn’t you? Don’t worry, I promise Meritoriousness of Equanimity is far more enjoyable than whatever mental image I just inflicted on you. Cheers!
Label: Willowtip Records
Release date: January 30, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/eximperitus.official
Country: Belarus
Score: 4.0/5.0
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