Something Ektomorf have always had to contend with is comparison to other acts, in particular groove and nu metal titans Soulfly. Frontman Zoli Farkas has a bark that’s extremely similar to Max Cavalera and the core sound of the band has always drawn parallels with the early years of their Brazilian counterparts. However, while Soulfly have incorporated more extreme metal elements to their sound down the years, Ektormorf have continued treading the same path of heavy grooves. That is until 2018’s Fury, which saw them adopt a lot more thrash elements, with the imagery to match. And this year, on Reborn, The quartet have finally started to push on and start carving out their own thrash metal identity.
Immediately on opening track “Ebullition”, you can tell that the nu metal stomp and groove have been almost completely stripped away on Reborn. Breakneck drumming and thrash riffs are the name of the game for Ekformorf now, and the intent is back in their sound now, compared to the past few years there it’s felt as though they were somewhat phoning it in amid a number of lineup changes. That’s not to say there’s been a total abandonment of their signature sound, though. Zoli’s signature bark is still as ferocious as ever, and there are still moments where they are able to fit in the occasional groovy riff, particularly on the title track and the end to “Where the Hate Conceives”.
Another thing worth noting is that the group appear to have put more focus into quality rather than quantity for their songs on this outing – with only 8 tracks, you’d think they may once again be looking to push out a quick album. But the songs feel as though a lot more thought has been put into them, with the song lengths being considerably longer (for example, “Forsaken” clocks in at over 7 minutes), numerous different stages of the songs as they twist and turn, and more guitar solos – particular highlights being on the title track and closer “Smashing the Past” – which were something of a rarity in the past.
However, just because Ektomorf have arguably evolved on Reborn, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve progressed into new and innovative territory. There are plenty of moments throughout the album which feel like any number of thrash bands out there, and it feels like Zoli is still trying to find the direction he wants this latest incarnation of the band to go in. Comparisons with Soulfly will certainly fade if they continue down this path, but without further progress they’ll just find themselves unfavourably compared to another established band, rather than being able to stand on their own merit. There is also a notable lull in the middle of the album where they attempt to slow things down with more mid-paced songs, and it’s far too easy to lose focus and interest in those songs after the strong start. It’s hard to recall any real noteworthy parts of “Fear Me” while the longer tracks can occasionally lose their way.
All in all though, the change in sound for Ektomorf on Reborn can only be considered a good thing. After over 20 years sitting in their comfort zone, it’s good to see that they aren’t just going to rest on their laurels and rely on big grooves and simple riffs to get by. The more they continue to push themselves, the more they’ll be able to stand out on their own merit in a music scene awash with copycats and derivative music. And getting away from incessant “Soulfly 2.0” comments is certainly a start.
Ektomorf released their new album Reborn via Napalm Records. Stream the album below and follow the band on Facebook
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