Since Berzerker Legions in 2001, Exmortem doesn’t consist of any founding members, but with Martin Thim as new creative force, the band kept on improving their brutal sound. The record to celebrate their 15th anniversary with, Funeral Phantoms, is their self-declared strongest album to date and after listening to their back catalogue I can agree with that. None of their other albums are actually bad or weak, but the new record clearly sounds more complete as a whole.

The production, that was done by the band themselves, has a lot to do with this. The album has a dark atmosphere and the overall sound is very thick and heavy. All elements are still clearly audible; none of the riffs, blasts or cymbals are unheard. Yet the band doesn’t try to focus on technique or brutality, but pays more attention to not lose the complete listening experience.

In stylistic terms this band doesn’t sound very European. More often do I hear US-death influences, think Hate Eternal and Lecherous Nocturne. A comparison to country mates Dawn Of Demise isn’t strange either, although Dawn Of Demise sounds more modern and has more parts in which it slows down; Exmortem rather keeps it extreme and sinister. Overall seen Funeral Phantoms isn’t a death metal record to begin with, but the more experienced fans of the genre will like it for sure.