XUL was one of those bands for me that I always heard in conversation but always forgot to look them up when I got home from shows. So needless to say, I was quite surprised seeing their latest EP release, Extinction Necromance (Self-Released), in my stack of albums to review. The EP is 4 tracks spanning just shy of 30 minutes and was just the right sample size I needed as a new listener and fan. While XUL’s sound does not seem groundbreaking, it still gives the blackened death metal genre a breath of fresh air. Each song has its own distinctive parts that make each song a different journey which is always a plus in my book.

The first track, ‘Frozen, We Drown’, has more of a death metal feel to it to start of the album. But just when you feel they stick to that one side of the spectrum, the zoom over to a black metal sounding interlude/bridge. I found each of the tracks had differing percentages of how much of the song would be death versus black metal. Most of the time it felt like an even amount of both in just the right formula for each song. However, the last track, ‘Summon The Swarm’, felt much more like a black metal song that at times reminded me ever so slightly of Watain.

Overall I did find this album to be pretty solid through the few tracks it has to offer. There were times I thought I could do a slow nod to a black metal riff and then wanted to Frank Mullen my hand around to death metal sections. Where I think this is a great place for new fans to listen to a small selection of songs from XUL, I am thinking of seeking out their full album at some point to give that a try as well. If you are looking for a new blackened death metal band or just new music in general, Extinction Necromance from XUL is a hell of a starting point.

8.0/10

TIM LEDIN