Ex Deo - The Thirteen Years Of Nero (2021)

The great exploits of history, both ancient and recent, have provided plenty of lyrical fodder for heavy metal going back as far as the genre’s primordial era. However, the specific subject of Roman history and mythology has been something of a road less travelled within metal circles, particularly insofar as bands specializing in conceptual storytelling. It’s a vast pool of exploits, both heroic and villainous, and longtime Kataklysm front man Maurizio Iacono has made an expansive career on the side with his project Ex Deo covering some of the more famous figures and moments of said history. Following an impressive stream of pomp-steeped symphonic theatricality with a death metal edge covering such noted figures as Caligula and events such as The Punic Wars, this part time fold from Quebec has opted to delve into the rule of one of Rome’s most notorious emperors with their latest offering dubbed “The Thirteen Years Of Nero.”

While this outfit often invites comparisons to the likes of Septicflesh and Fleshgod Apocalypse due to the heavy amount of cinematic bluster and dense orchestral sounds accompanying their impact-based brand of extreme metallic fervor, this particular studio endeavor does a fair bit to distinguish Ex Deo from the pack. Between the mostly deeper barks and snarls of Iacono and the chunky riff work that relies on a well rounded combination of groove and dissonant tones, the sound that emerges has a bit more of an Amon Amarth-like tinge to it, which is further bolstered by some tasteful yet fairly frequent singing melodic passages out of Stephane Barbe that bring a slight melodeath element into the equation. Likewise, the particular fascination that this band exhibits with Ancient Roman storytelling results in them becoming to said subject in a death metal context what Nile is to Egyptian-focused death metal, complete with occasional employment of some period instrument sounds.