Exxûl - Sealed Into None - review
Exxûl - Sealed Into None - review
Tracklist
01. Bells Of The Exxûl02. Blighted Deity
03. Walls Of Endless Darkness
04. Labyrinthine Fate
05. The Screaming Tower
A review by
AndyMetalFreak February 01, 2026
Sealed Into None is the mighty debut of Exxûl, who formed in Canada in 2020 under their initial name Crestfallen before rebranding in 2024. Throughout this 5-tracked album, they unleash an exhilarating 45-minute combination of power, doom, and epic heavy metal while incorporating blackened elements, across which you'll hear a variety of influences spanning the likes of Fates Warning, Sanctuary, Manowar, Crimson Glory, Solitude Aeturnus, and Scald. With this striking blend of genres, they've conjured up a style that's unique and almost immediately distinctive from bands across the category.
The band's name Exxûl originates from a lyrical excerpt written in 2018 for founding guitarist Defender's (Philippe Allaire-Tougas of First Fragment) former project Eternity's End. The name is that of the tower at the summit of the world's second highest peak where the bells from the tower signal the end of time, which can be heard from across the world, as represented on the opening track "Bells Of The Exxûl". The album follows a mythological theme where the lyrics represent a perpetual planes lore that ties into the same universe as Defender's other bands, such as Chthe'ilist, Atramentus, and Zeicrydeus.
Defender takes centre stage with guitars that flow and interweave almost freely at will between rapid power shredding and wailing leads, almost like two serpents battling each other out, and riffs that vary from crushing mid-paced doom to melodic traditional heavy metal. This is competently led by the rhythm section of bassist Sentinel and drummer Etherial Hammer, while the synths, keys, and samples of Spectre play a prominent role in helping create the majestic, richly colourful, and vibrant soundscapes. The diverse and theatrical vocal performance from Stargazer (Thomas Karamis of Noor) is a standout feature, as he passionately soars and wails with the range of a divine entity. From this performance alone, I'd honestly be baffled if he doesn't get recognized as one the finest vocalists in modern metal; he possesses such a raw talent and distinctive style that, for me, places him in the same category as legendary frontmen such as Ray Alder, Warrel Dane, and even Geoff Tate.
The thing that stands out for me most of all isn't the songwriting, nor the exceptional performances, but the production. It's far from pristine, and doesn't follow a typical modern polished approach; instead it opts for a relatively rough and organic sound. That's clearly the intention here, though, as there's a real sense of authenticity in the way it captures the very essence and soul of yesteryear's golden era of metal. The songwriting is densely structured and richly diverse, perhaps even feeling a touch too bloated at times. For me this listening experience is like going through a delicious but overwhelming 4-course meal, where everything on each plate tickles your taste buds and meets your satisfaction. However, the further you dig in, the more full you get, and yet, you still want to carry on forcing food down your throat despite your body telling you to stop, simply because it tastes so damn good.
Sealed Into None is certainly an epic debut, one that not only sets the bar high for this band going forward, but sets the standards high so early on in 2026 for bands in the comprising genres to follow on from. With a few minor tweaks, and a tad less density in its overall structure, I believe this band could really go far, especially with such a vocal display, outstanding solos, majestic synth work, and a theme that continues to be as intriguing as what's on offer here.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 7 |
Written on 01.02.2026 by
Written on 01.02.2026 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
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