Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Extol, 'Labyrinth Of Ill / Exigency - Single'
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Extol
Labyrinth Of Ill / Exigency - Single



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Metal / Death Metal
Album length: 2 tracks: 9 minutes, 9 seconds
Street Date: October 12, 2023


READER RATING:   


If you're talking about the greats of Christian metal, one name that is crucial to the conversation is the Norwegian progressive death metal act Extol. The band's members have been active with various other projects lately (Azusa, Hrada, Fleshkiller), but it's been an entire decade since Extol's last album. After their Furnace Fest '23 plans fell through, fans were left wondering about the future of the band. But thankfully, it didn't take long to hear the wonderful news: the band is back properly, and new music is on the way.

Our first taste of what's to come is a double single from their forthcoming, as-of-yet untitled sixth studio album. The first song, "Labyrinth of Ill," slowly builds into pummeling riffs, which lead the way for Peter Espevoll to come in with his signature growling vocals. The song is also home to Extol's classic, haunting clean vocals, as well as technical guitar riffs and solos. It's a hopeful song, too, addressing the eternal hope we have, even in the midst of darkness ("Fervor lost, my heart bereft / in the blustering of doubt and despair / I've lost my grasp on what was just / yet a glimmer of deliverance is here … though my path may waver, and I may stray / love and community will lead the way / in the embrace of compassion, I shall find peace / hope and unity shall never cease"). "Exigency" takes a different approach to songwriting, utilizing more of a death metal style of lyricism, maximizing their vocabulary with each and every line, with its talk of "viral zoonotic and vector-borne diseases." It's less encouraging than the track before it ("Altering the distribution and abundance of species / increasement of pest and invasive breeds / severe droughts and toxic waters") and more apocalyptic (or maybe even about the plagues in Egypt from the book of Exodus). However, it's a hard-hitting track that pairs nicely with "Labyrinth," picking up right where they left off with their 2013 self-titled album.

These singles are only a small glimpse of the impending full-length, but it's enough to show the world that 1) Extol hasn't lost a step, and 2) whatever they've got cooking is sure to be a gourmet meal. Whether you're a fan of the band or just a fan of the genre and have never even heard of Extol, you're going to want to get these songs into your life. Probably ought to jump on the album pre-sales when they go live, too.

- Review date: 10/8/23, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Solid State Records
. Album length: 2 tracks: 9 minutes, 9 seconds
. Street Date: October 12, 2023
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Vinyl)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Labyrinth Of Ill (4:38)
  2. Exigency (4:31)

 

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune The Seventh Seal [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Cosmic Innuendo, Vol. II: Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)

SINGLES
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images