Track by Track: Ex Deo –Year of the Four Emperors EP

If you like your history with a dash of death metal, have we got a recommendation for you. Alternately, if you’re a fan of historical death metal, Ex Deo is gonna scratch all those itches with their new EP, Year of the Four Emperors. An ongoing concern since 2008, courtesy of Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono (and some of his Kataklysm bandmates), Ex Deo have issued four previous symphonic death metal releases focused on various historical topics/subjects, mostly Roman.

Though earlier efforts have been released via Napalm Records and Nuclear Blast, the upcoming EP, Year of the Four Emperors, arrives courtesy of Reigning Phoenix Music. This one sees the band—Jean-François Dagenais (guitars), Stéphane Barbe (guitars), Dano Apekian (bass), James Payne (drums)—raging through four mini epics centered on one of Rome’s most tumultuous periods: AD 69. It covers the relentless ambition, treachery, and warfare that defined the reigns of Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.

We gave the band the opportunity to provide some in-depth analysis of the four crushers on the new EP, set for release January 10. You can place your preorder here.

Also, check out the Ex Deo 2025 tour dates for both Europe and North America below.

“Galba”
Blood and greed mark the dawn of turmoil.
Galba rises from the ashes of Nero’s reign, a tyrant cloaked in the guise of savior. The track mirrors his ruthless ascent, dominated by unrelenting riffs and venomous proclamations of power. His insatiable hunger for wealth and domination sets the tone for the chaos to follow. As the walls of Rome close in, the Praetorian Guard turns against him in a violent crescendo, heralding his downfall. Galba’s story is a chilling testament to hubris and betrayal.
“Otho”
The loyal turned traitor, consumed by ambition.
The tale of Otho is one of fractured loyalty and inevitable tragedy. Opening with an ominous lament, the song erupts into a battle cry as Otho schemes to claim the throne. His confrontation with Vitellius at the Battle of Bedriacum is rendered in blistering tempo and agonized growls, evoking the blood-soaked fields. As Otho faces defeat and chooses suicide over prolonged strife, the song slows to a mournful dirge, a tribute to his fleeting grasp on destiny.
“Vitellius”
The butcher crowned, destined for ruin.
A dark and relentless anthem, this track embodies Vitellius’ brutal reign. The music swells with martial intensity, reflecting his thirst for conquest and the savagery that defined his rule. From the echoes of his allegiance to Nero to the inevitable clash with Vespasian’s forces, the song crescendos into chaos. The lyrics reveal a man driven by bloodlust yet powerless to escape his fate. Vitellius’ violent end is portrayed with haunting finality, a reminder of Rome’s volatile power.
“Vespasian”
The rise of order, forged in the flames of war.
The EP’s closing track is an anthem of resilience and renewal. Vespasian emerges as a figure of stability amid the chaos, and the music reflects his calculated strength. Triumphant melodies intertwine with thunderous percussion, capturing his consolidation of power and the restoration of Rome’s fractured empire. The lyrics exalt Vespasian as the harbinger of a new era, culminating in a resounding declaration of victory and legacy. His reign ushers in the Flavian dynasty and a semblance of peace.
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
1/2 Hamburg, GER Markthalle
1/3 Oberhausen, GER Turbinenhalle 2
1/5 St. Niklaas, BEL De Casino
1/7 London, UK O2 Academy Islington
1/8 Paris, FRA La Machine
1/9 Toulouse, FRA Bikini
1/10 Burgos, SPA Sala Anden
1/11 Madrid, SPA Sala del Wizink
1/12 Barcelona, SPA Razzmatazz 2
1/14 Lyon, FRA La Ryaonne
1/15 Trezzo sull’Adda, ITA Live Club
1/16 Zurich, SWI Komplex 457
1/17 Munich, GER Backstage Werk
1/18 Budapest, HUN Barba Negra
1/19 Zagreb, CRO Boogaloo
1/21 Vienna, AUT Simm City
1/22 Kosice, SLO Colloseum
1/23 Wroclaw, POL A2
1/24 Prague, CZE Meet Factory
1/25 Leipzig, GER Hellraiser

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
2/10 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
2/11 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
2/12 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
2/13 Mesa, AZ Nile Theater
2/14 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick
2/15 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge
2/16 Los Angeles, CA 1720
2/17 Las Vegas, NV Sinwave
2/19 Denver, CO The Oriental Theater
2/20 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater
2/21 St. Paul, MN Amsterdam Bar & Hall
2/22 Joliet, IL The Forge
2/23 Cleveland, OH TempleLive Cleveland @ Asylum
2/24 Toronto, ON Concert Hall
2/26 Ottawa, ON Overflow
2/27 Montreal, QC Le Studio TD
2/28 Worcester, MA The Palladium (upstairs)
3/1 Albany, NY Empire Live
3/2 New York, NY Gramercy Theater

The post Track by Track: Ex Deo –<em>Year of the Four Emperors</em> EP appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

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