USQUAM – Ex Nihilo
Release Date: 31st January 2025
Label: Source Atone Records
Order
Genre: Black Metal, Blackened Extreme Metal.
FFO: Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Gaerea.
Review By: Andy Spoon
French extreme metal outfit USQUAM has prepared its 2025 release with a main focus on epic melodic riffs, high-pitched vocal attack, and classic-style lead guitar work that blends various elements from power metal, post-black, symphonic black metal, and some death metal into a blend of dark metal that will appeal to fans of Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, and Gaerea. The album will be released on Source Atone Records on January 31st.
I really enjoy the use of the high-pitched vocals in blackened or black metal. The female voice lends itself to a more natural version of the alto-esque screeching vocals that cause the haunting atmosphere of the black metal music to really come alive. I’ve always thought that adding vocal registers above tenor would add extremity to black metal, especially. Some vocalists have learned to use the soprano and whistle register techniques to give even higher dimension. I think that one day, someone will reach those heights; and I will be there to witness it.
Right off the bat, you’re going to hear influences from the greats like Darkthrone, especially in the way of the rhythm guitar lines. I think that the base layer of the grooves come straight out of the deep-rooted black metal. On top of that, Ex Nihilo brings a symphonic aspect that comes right out of the same river as Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. One of my favorite parts of each track is the lead guitar shredding that really has deep roots in power metal, speed metal, or even death/thrash at some points. I find the lead guitars to be extremely-varied, something that I think adds a hell of a lot to the overall voice of the album.
Lyrically, the band has written in Latin, French, and English, just to pepper the album in amorphousness, something that definitely goes along with the varied nature of the tracks. The band has taken inspiration from post-black music that leans into slow, dirge-like tracks reminiscent of beautiful, melodic doom metal, while quickly bouncing right back to the fast-paced blast beat-heavy extreme metal in short order. I think that if you like the emotionally-charged, moody heaviness of Gaerea, you are really going to appreciate several tracks on Ex Nihilo.
Overall, Ex Nihilo is a fun listen with tons of great moments, fabulous breakdowns, interesting vocals, old school lead guitar riffs, and musical structure for days. There’s a lot going on, but in a good way. It’s like watching a Roman chariot being pulled by two Komodo dragons down the interstate – You don’t really understand how they made it work, but it looks totally badass and leaves you wanting more. I think that deserves recognition. I am glad to see this band on the scene and want to absolutely hear more from them going forward.
(3.5 / 5)
