INTUS MORTEM Exiled from Light CD

From the heart of the Italian underground comes Intus Mortem, a band that breathes new life into the classic foundations of Black and Death Metal. Their 2022 release, Exiled from Light, published by Ascension Records, is a powerful statement of intent, a record that balances raw, old-school aggression with a dark, sophisticated atmosphere. Far from being just another blast-beat exercise, this album focuses on cold melodies and a sense of impending doom that permeates every track. The journey begins with the sinister beckoning of Ex Inferi Oblatus, quickly spiraling into the relentless, graveyard energy of May the Dead Rise. The title track, Exiled from Light, serves as the record's blackened heart, a concise blast of shadows that perfectly encapsulates the band's aesthetic. Intus Mortem isn't afraid to let the music breathe, as seen in the mid-tempo crushing weight of Blood and Lust and the epic, six-minute descent of In Nomine Draconis, where the band’s technical proficiency and sense of ritualistic pacing truly shine. As the album reaches its climax with Grace of the Serpent and the final, blasphemous echoes of The Celebration of Sin, it becomes clear that Intus Mortem has crafted a work of high-quality extreme metal. This CD is an essential pick for fans of the early Swedish scene (think Dissection or Necrophobic) as well as those who follow the storied Italian tradition of dark, melodic extremity. If you are looking for an album that sounds like a moonless night in a desecrated cathedral, Exiled from Light is the record for you.