I like to consider myself a student of musical expression, constantly exposing myself to new forms and styles and thereby expanding my knowledge base for later application. This rationalization makes me feel better about my alarming lack of musical ability, but every now and then my insignificance is thrown into stark relief by the new acts I discover along my path. Case in point, France’s Exanimis: four ex-students of the Music Academy International, whose shared passion for technical death metal and classical orchestrations has led them to record a breathtaking debut, Marionettiste. While the obvious associations with Fleshgod Apocalypse and Septicflesh are inevitable, what does shine through is youthful exuberance and willingness to trespass beyond the established boundaries of the symp...
