Led by Katakylsm frontman, Maurizio Iacono, the Juno-nominated project, Ex Deo, are getting set to drop a new EP. Year of the Four Emperors arrives on January 10th, 2025, as the band’s first release with the Reigning Phoenix Music record label. They also launch an intensive touring schedule in Europe and North America from first thing in the new year. Head into the article below to find out more.
The Year of the Four Emperors plunges the listener into the chaos and bloodlust of one of Rome’s most tumultuous periods: AD 69. It covers the relentless ambition, treachery, and warfare that defined the reigns of Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Each track tells a story of power’s corruptive allure and the brutal cost of empire, culminating in the rise of the Flavian dynasty.
It begins with the epic “Galba,” a rousing blast of symphonic metal that details his ruthless ascent and downfall. Next is “Otho,” a song that musically echoes the titans of melodic death metal such as Amon Amarth and Amorphis. Lyrically, the track explores how Roman Emperor Otho schemed to take the throne from Galba, only to be eventually defeated by Vitellius.The following track takes on the tale of Vitellius and his eventual defeat at the hands of Vespasian. The closing track, “Vespasian,” conveys a sense of triumph and finality, as the lyrics exalt the emperor as the harbinger of a new era. Year of the Four Emperors is a triumphant return for Ex Deo and is sure to cement their status as the premier symphonic death metal band in the genre.
Year of the Four Emperors tracklisting:
01 Galba
02 Otho
03 Vitellius
04 Vespasian
European tour dates:
1/2 Hamburg, GER Markthalle
1/3 Oberhausen, GER Turbinenhalle 2
1/5 St. Niklaas, BEL De Casino
1/7 London, UK O2 Academy Islington
1/8 Paris, FRA La Machine
1/9 Toulouse, FRA Bikini
1/10 Burgos, SPA Sala Anden
1/11 Madrid, SPA Sala del Wizink
1/12 Barcelona, SPA Razzmatazz 2
1/14 Lyon, FRA La Ryaonne
1/15 Trezzo sull’Adda, ITA Live Club
1/16 Zurich, SWI Komplex 457
1/17 Munich, GER Backstage Werk
1/18 Budapest, HUN Barba Negra
1/19 Zagreb, CRO Boogaloo
1/21 Vienna, AUT Simm City
1/22 Kosice, SLO Colloseum
1/23 Wroclaw, POL A2
1/24 Prague, CZE Meet Factory
1/25 Leipzig, GER Hellraiser
North American tour dates:
2/10 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
2/11 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
2/12 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
2/13 Mesa, AZ Nile Theater
2/14 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick
2/15 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge
2/16 Los Angeles, CA 1720
2/17 Las Vegas, NV Sinwave
2/19 Denver, CO The Oriental Theater
2/20 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater
2/21 St. Paul, MN Amsterdam Bar & Hall
2/22 Joliet, IL The Forge
2/23 Cleveland, OH TempleLive Cleveland @ Asylum
2/24 Toronto, ON Concert Hall
2/26 Ottawa, ON Overflow
2/27 Montreal, QC Le Studio TD
2/28 Worcester, MA The Palladium (upstairs)
3/1 Albany, NY Empire Live
3/2 New York, NY Gramercy Theater
More from Ex Deo:
Ex Deo is no mere band—it is a titan in the world of symphonic death metal, a living embodiment of the might, majesty, and madness of Ancient Rome. Forged in 2008 by Maurizio Iacono, the visionary frontman of the legendary Kataklysm, Ex Deo channels the ferocity of metal through the monumental lens of Roman history and serves as exploration of Iacono’s heritage and links to Ancient Roman bloodlines. Ex Deo crafts a sound as vast and indomitable as the empire itself. With dual roots in the cultural bastions of Montreal, Canada, and Orlando, Florida, Ex Deo stands as a juggernaut that bridges ancient glory and modern brutality.
From the outset, Ex Deo set a grand standard, with each member—Maurizio Iacono on commanding vocals, Jean-François Dagenais and Stéphane Barbe on guitars, Dano Apekian on bass, and James Payne on drums—assuming the roles of warriors, historians, and musical architects. Augmented by the masterful orchestral compositions of Clemens Wijers, the band transcends the boundaries of metal, weaving symphonies of war, betrayal, and triumph. Their live performances are an immersive spectacle, with the band donning Roman legionnaire regalia, transforming stages into battlefields where the echoes of the past thunder into the present.
Ex Deo’s debut album, Romulus (2009), heralded the arrival of a force unlike any other. Released under the banner of Nuclear Blast and shaped by the deft production of Jean-François Dagenais, the album was a storm of crushing riffs and epic storytelling, featuring guest appearances by Karl Sanders (Nile), Nergal (Behemoth), and Obsidian C. (Keep Of Kalessin). With songs like the towering title track “Romulus,” the album marched triumphantly into the metal world, leaving an indelible mark on fans and critics alike. The band’s conquests extended to stages across Europe and North America, from Hellfest to Paganfest, establishing Ex Deo as an unstoppable legion.
The saga continued with Caligvla (2012), an audacious chronicle of the madness and grandeur of Emperor Caligula, released on the 2000th anniversary of his birth. Released through Napalm Records, the album showcased Ex Deo’s ability to merge historical gravitas with symphonic and death metal ferocity. Featuring collaborations with luminaries such as Seth (Septicflesh) and Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania), and accompanied by the stunning video for “I, Caligvla,” the album earned a Juno nomination, cementing Ex Deo as not just a band, but a historical force in metal.
In 2017, The Immortal Wars delivered an earth-shaking exploration of the Punic Wars, a clash of titans between Hannibal and Rome. This conceptual masterpiece was hailed as a cinematic triumph, its grandeur matched only by its unrelenting ferocity. The album’s release heralded another era of triumph for Ex Deo, as they embarked on monumental tours alongside Ensiferum and Septicflesh, leaving audiences awestruck in their wake. With The Thirteen Years of Nero (2021), Ex Deo turned their gaze to the infamous reign of Nero, crafting an album that balanced the decadent madness of the emperor with the band’s signature majesty. Critics hailed it as a masterpiece of storytelling and composition, a crown jewel in Ex Deo’s legacy.
The forthcoming EP, The Year of the Four Emperors (2025), their first at new label home Reigning Phoenix Music, promises to elevate Ex Deo’s artistry to even greater heights. Through thunderous anthems like “Galba,” “Otho,” “Vitellius,” and “Vespasian,” the band will resurrect the chaos of AD 69, a year that saw the rise and fall of four emperors amidst Rome’s most harrowing upheavals. This is not merely music—it is history reborn, a symphonic tempest of ambition, betrayal, and triumph. Ex Deo is a behemoth in the metal pantheon, a band that dares to dream as grandly as the empire it reveres. Their music is a testament to the timeless struggle for power and the eternal allure of glory. With each album, they carve their legacy into the annals of metal history, standing as a towering monument to the might of Ancient Rome and the undying power of metal.
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