Exumer - Possessed by Fire - April, 1986

Exumer are a lot like a German Exodus circa 1985 -- ultra-aggressive thrash with an over-the-top vocalist who doesn't possess a whole lot in the way of real singing ability. It's easy to get swept up in the sheer speed of Exumer's attack here, and the band goes through riffs with reckless abandon -- which is part of the problem on this album. There are some really great fucking riffs here, but for the most part they just don't know how to put them together. In a lot of cases it seems like they've just hammered a lot of different riffs together that just don't want to fit. If Exumer possessed just a little more songwriting skill, this could really be one of the all-time greats. It's still a good album, and will get that head banging but it's not particularly memorable or iconic. 

1. Possessed by Fire
2. Destructive Solution
3. Fallen Saint
4. A Mortal in Black
5. Sorrows of the Judgement
6. Xiron Darkstar
7. Reign of Sadness
8. Journey to Oblivion
9. Silent Death

Score: 7/10