Release
Date: August 29th, 2025
Format: Digital/CD
Country: USA/Netherlands
When two musicians from different continents
decide to create something together, the results can be unpredictable. In the
case of Exoneration, the project unites
American guitarist and programmer Corey Stiles with
Dutch vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Arnaud
Zijp. The duo signed with Rottweiler Records at the end of 2024, quickly
delivering a holiday single before turning their attention to a full-length
release. The result is their debut album, "Monuments To Nothing", an
ambitious dive into metalcore that arrives with plenty of noise and intensity
but struggles to leave a lasting impression.
The album
opens with “The Abyss We Crown,” a track that storms in with aggression,
establishing the kind of turbulent guitars and caustic vocals that dominate the
album. “Thorn” and “Birth By Death” follow a similar route, driven by sharp
riffing and relentless growls, creating an overwhelming wall of sound that
doesn’t always find direction. Midway through, “Psalm 115” introduces choral
layers, breaking the pattern momentarily, while “Basilisk,” featuring Candlebearer, pushes harder with heavy passages
that briefly raise the energy before returning to familiar territory.
One of the more unusual moments comes with “Soul Of A Great Warrior,” an instrumental that shifts between pounding heaviness and short-lived melodies. It suggests that Exoneration has the ability to step away from their usual formula, even if the piece itself feels more like a sketch than a statement. Later tracks like “Martyr” and “Where Else Should We Go” (featuring Hillyn) lean on big choruses and added vocal variety, yet the overall impact fades quickly. By the time the closing track “Unfettered” arrives, the album’s promise of diversity feels buried under sheer volume.
Lyrically, "Monuments To Nothing" seems built on grand concepts—struggles, destruction, and empty pursuits—but the delivery doesn’t always match the ambition. There’s plenty of force, yet much of it feels unfocused, resulting in an album that is loud and aggressive without carrying much substance beneath the surface. For listeners who want sheer heaviness without much else, Exoneration provides plenty of firepower. For others searching for depth or innovation, "Monuments To Nothing" risks being exactly what its title suggests. A grand construction without solid foundation.
Score: 5.0
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