PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS — Walk Through Exits Only (review)

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS — Walk Through Exits Only album cover Album · 2013 · Groove Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Walk Through Exits Only" is the debut full-length studio album by US extreme metal act Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals. The album was released through Housecore Records/Season of Mist in July 2013. I´m not completely sure if this is to be perceived as a solo release by Philip H. Anselmo featuring a backing band or if Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals are a band rather than a solo project. Anselmo are of course quite the prolific gentleman having been a member of/having participated in projects/bands like Pantera, Superjoint Ritual, Down and Necrophagia.

"Walk Through Exits Only" doesn´t really sound like any of his other projects even though Anselmo is as always instantly recognisable because of his distinct voice and singing style. The music style on the album is actually a bit hard to pin down, as there are influences from many styles put into the melting pot. Out comes a really aggressive and powerful extreme metal style, that both grooves, kicks heads in with sharp heavy riffing and generally entertains as a result of it´s diversity. The band have found room for slight experimental parts in the music too which is something that ensures that you are kept on your toes at all times. That´s especially true for the nearly 12 minutes long closing track "Irrelevant Walls and Computer Screens", but other tracks feature experiemental parts too.

The band are very well playing and the material is delivered with fierce passion and conviction. Anselmo is the focal point here though and he really shines. He is such a powerful, raw and diverse vocalist. Most of his vocals on this album are in the more extreme end of his arsenal, but as he has shown in the past, he also masters clean type vocals. "Walk Through Exits Only" is devoid of clean vocals though.

The sound production is raw and powerful and upon conclusion "Walk Through Exits Only" is a pretty strong release. It doesn´t exactly reach the heights of the best material by his more prolific projects but it´s well worth a listen if you´re a fan of Anselmo´s vocal style. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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