ektomorf

(8/10) Ektomorf is the brainchild of Zoltán Farkas who founded the band in 1993. Farkas and Ektomorf didn't only sail on the sunny side of life. The band had to face prejudices and their music was partly described as a copycat of Brazilian thrash pioneers Sepultura and later on Soulfly. 

However, 25 years later Ektomorf is still around, mainly based on Farkas' willpower and a lot of staying power. Mid February 2018 the band will release their new record entitled "Fury". It's Ektomorf's 13^th studio album, featuring ten new metal tracks that are loaded with high-octane and groove.

The album title, "Fury", describes pretty well what fans can expect from this album. It's a next grooving chapter in Ektomorf's discography with tunes that are furious and fierce. Not that the band reinvented the wheel with this longplayer. The quartet still focusses on their exciting mix of thrash metal, hardcore and groove, songs that makes you jump.

It's again producer legend Tue Madsen who gave "Fury" an excellent sound that is another factor of continuity. What's new though is the line-up. After a complete change of band members in 2017 it's Szebasztián Simon (Guitar) , Attila Asztalos (Bass), Dániel Szabó (Drums) supporting Farkas on "Fury". It looks very much like the guys found quite some common ground since the album sounds tight and spot-on.

To sum up. New line-up, excellent producer and a typical Ektomorf groove, that is what you get with "Fury" and it's rough times the band went though led them to where they are now, a constant factor in metal that doesn't disappoint with "Fury".

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. The Prophet of Doom
2. AK47
3. Fury
4. Bullet in Your Head
5. Faith and Strength
6. Infernal Warfare
7. Tears od Christ
8. Blood For Blood
9. If You're Willing to Die
10. Skin Them Alive

Label: AFM Records

Genre: Groove Metal

Release Date EU: February 16th, 2018

(7/10) Ektomorf is basically the brainchild of Hungarian metal maniac Zoltán Farkas who started the band in 1993. The guitarist had to go through a rough time in the beginning and it was his willpower that kept him going. Ektomorf released in the meantime 15 records with their fifth album, "Destroy", being a milestone for Farkas and the band. The longplayer, produced by Danish mastermind Tue Madsen at the helm, lead to appreciation of fans and media.

Ektomorf's energetic groove metal combines thrash, metal and punk to a powerful total that reminds of bands like Soulfly. It was in 2016 when the quartet played the unique Wacken festival. The guys made us of the opportunity to record the show and almost 12 months later the CD/DVD hits the shelfs. 

The enitre set was build around the latest studio album "Aggressor" and the 2006 output "Outcast", spiced up with up with some older classics. The setlist is a well-balanced mix of old and new with Tue Madsen handling the audio mix for this release.

The DVD comes with a documentary entitled "Live and Life on the Road" which provides an entertaining 60 minutes behind-the-scene glimpse. "Warpath (Live and Life on the Road" is a proper live album, reflecting on almost 15 years of Ektomorf. For sure interesting for fans of the band and grooving thrash metal.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

CD:

DVD:

(8/10) Almost two years after the pretty good "Retribution" Zoltan Farkas invites to a new 'jump party'.

The groove metal institution didn't only face the glorious side of rock'n'roll. Ektomorf was often described as a copycat of esp. Soulfly but the guys showed over all those years a consistancy that, with all respect, wasn't to find back on the latest Soulfly releases.

"Aggressor" comes with mighty grooving riffs that are an open invitation to jump and bang your head. Farkas and his gang don't care about all the comments they go in the past. They're doing what they love and it feels like the critisism increased the aggression in their sound. Listening to Ektomorf gives me the impression that the guys never reached their comfort zone, which makes the sound of "Aggressor" even hard and brutal.

This kind of music isn't the right stuff for a Sunday afternoon on the couch. This music isn't made for earphones too. "Aggressor" needs to get a live environment in a small and smokey club atmosphere.

Ektomorf are still greedy for good sounds and riffs. The new longplayer proves this very well. Those four guys are still thirsty.

There is one break in the tracklist called "Momento" which is also the end of the album. It's an acoustic track that includes some gypsy sounds and an oriental touch. It's an interesting mixture that fits very well. You can still recognise the tune as being from Ektomorf, even though it sound is totally different from the rest.

I have to say that I like "Aggressor". Regardless of all the bands that might influenced the guys, Ektomorf presents a powerful longplayer that is a sonic energy drink. Prost.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. I
3. Aggressor
4. Holocaust
5. Move On
6. Evil by Nature
7. You Can't Get More
8. Emotionless World
9. Eastside
10. Scars
11. Damned Nation
12. You Lost
13. You're Not For Me
14. Memento

​Label: AFM Records

Genre: Groove Metal

Release Date EU: October 30st, 2015

(7/10) If someone never gives up than it is Zoltan Farkas from Ektomorf. The band was confronted from time to time with some controversial discussions and feedback, esp. since their sound is/was very much connected to Brazilians Soulfly. This mainly due to the fact that Ektomorf also focus on groove oriented and angry thrash metal. The band released in the meantime eleven records and will release their coming album "Retribution" end of January.

The album comes with 14 songs. With one expection, "Whisper", the tracks are kept to 2-4 minutes rockers. This leads to a total running time of 45 minutes which is OK.

Ektomorf still stands for thrash metal which delivers raw power, aggression and a lot of groove. For me they also go away from the good old Soulfly comparison. They add some elements from bands like Slipknot ("Who the fuck are you") into their songs as well as some hardcore elements. This leads to more of an own identity. On "Numb and sick" Ektomorf got also support from nobody else than Cristian Machado from Il Nīno. The energetic album was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen. So, the framework for a good album could be better.

How about the songs? As said earlier, most of them are between 2-3 minutes straight to the point. There are for example the really pissed-off tracks like "Who the fuck" are you". The sound makes very clear that the question is not really a very friendly one. The opener "You can't control me" is another song which I like. It has the typical groove, we know from the band combined with a strong riff and aggressive drumming. "I hate you" reflects more the hardcore influences of the band.

I also have to mention "Collapsed bridge" which is a surprise to me. An acoustical song which doesn't really fit into the context of the other songs. It's also not the best song of the album, but it has quite intensive lyrics. Talking about that - Ektomorf still focus on criticising discrimination and reflect on the society, pain and anger. It seems that a lot of these lyrics are based on personal experiences and as said earlier, the band never let get them down by these things.

All in all "Retribution" became a good metal record. The band managed to get more variation into their songwriting which makes it for to one of the better Ektomorf discs. Give it a try.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. You can't control me
2. The plagues
3. Face the fear
4. Escape
5. Who the fuck are you
6. Numb and sick
7. Lost and destroyed
8. Souls of fire
9. I hate you
10. Watch me
11. Mass ignorance
12. Save me
13. Whisper
14. Collapsed bridge

​

Label: AFM Records

Genre: Thrash Metal