Sometimes a new album feels a bit different from the routine. This can be for many reasons such as the band has announced it will be their last, it's their comeback record or, as is the case here, it's the first release without a longtime member. When Exhorder returned for the second time in 2017, led by vocalist Kyle Thomas and guitarist Vinnie LaBella, fans were very excited, especially when the news broke that they were working on their first album in well over twenty years. The subsequent result, "Mourn The Southern Skies," turned out to meet and maybe even exceed the expectations of fans, delivering the sound they were known for with a modern slant. However, since then, LaBella has parted company with the group and fans have been wondering what Exhorder will sound like without the signature riff master. Finally, we have that answer in "Defectum Omnium."

There's good news for longtime fans and that's that the groove, the thrash, the darkness, they're all still present. "Defectum Omnium" kicks off in suitably aggressive fashion with, "Wrath Of Prophecies," which is very fierce indeed, although there's an odd rhythm to it, which almost makes it sound as if it's tumbling. This is perhaps inspired by their punk influence, which is increased notably on the following song, "Under The Gaslight," and further still on "Sedition" towards the end of the record. This is an album with no shortage of speed.

Listener's first taste of the record was "Year Of The Goat" and it's almost certainly the best song on display for its memorable hooks and being a prime example of how thrash can still be written very well. Speaking of singles, "Forever And Beyond Despair" also sticks out for its blend of thrash, groove, and even a little grind. It's unfortunate that comparisons are often made between Exhorder and Pantera, however, this song was quite reminiscent of Superjoint Ritual. Aside from the singles, "Three Stages Of Truth / Lacing The Well" is noteworthy for the excellent use of acoustic guitars in the first part and crushing groove in the second.

As alluded to, "Defectum Omnium" isn't without its faults. The aforementioned "Three Stages Of Truth / Lacing The Well" doesn't really need to be so long, which is something that could be applied to other songs too. The title track is a Gregorian chanting piece, which is fine, but one wonders why it had to be superglued to another song, rather than be its own piece, a la Rotting Christ. Other works like "Your Six" also tend to feel a little bland, while at times, the mix of approaches can come across as quite messy.

Overall, Exhorder hasn't outdone themselves with "Defectum Omnium," but it's still Exhorder, and fans who were worried about the departure of LaBella needn't worry about the band losing their sound. It may be slightly different, but the philosophy is still there. It's refreshing if, even if it doesn't always work, the group is willing to tread new territory without alienating longtime listeners. This is a good album and fans will certainly get plenty from it, it just won't dethrone the classics, which I doubt is what the plan was anyway.