EX DEO, the Juno-nominated project of KATAKYLSM frontman Maurizio Iacono, have released a lyric video for ‘Otho.’ The song is taken from their critically acclaimed EP “Year Of The Four Emperors.” The EP was released last month on CD and digital and has now received a limited edition release on clear vinyl.
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.
Death metal gladiators EX DEO, the Juno-nominated project of KATAKYLSM frontman Maurizio Iacono, have unleashed their highly anticipated new EP “Year Of The Four Emperors” on Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), via its partnership with Distortion Music Group. The album is out now digitally and on CD, with a limited edition vinyl to follow on March 14, 2025.
To celebrate, the band have unveiled the EP’s focus track ‘Vitellius.’ 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.
The band are also currently on tour in Europe in support of DARK FUNERAL and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE. They will follow this up with a North American tour in the spring in support of SEPTICFLESH and VLTIMAS.
EX DEO live:
“Let The Devil In” – European Winter Tour 2025 w/ DARK FUNERAL, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, KAMI NO IKARI Presented by Metal Hammer, metal.de & Decibel-Touring 10.01.2025 ES Burgos – Sala Andén 56 11.01.2025 ES Madrid – La Sala del WiZink Center 12.01.2025 ES Barcelona – Sala Razzmatazz 2 14.01.2025 FR Villeurbanne (Lyon) – La Rayonne 15.01.2025 IT Trezzo sull’Adda (MI) – Live Club 16.01.2025 CH Zurich – Komplex 457 17.01.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 18.01.2025 HU Budapest – Barba Negra 19.01.2025 HR Zagreb – Boogaloo 21.01.2025 AT Vienna – SimmCity 22.01.2025 SK Kosice – Collosseum Club 23.01.2025 PL Wroclaw – Centrum Koncertowe A2 24.01.2025 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 25.01.2025 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 26.01.2025 NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg * * w/ FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE only
30.01. – 03.02.2025 US Miami, FL – 70,000 Tons of Metal
“Modern Primitive In North America Tour 2025” w/ SEPTICFLESH, VLTIMAS Presented by Hard Impact Artist Management & Continental Touring USA 10.02.2025 US Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall 11.02.2025 US Dallas, TX – Granada Theater 12.02.2025 US Albuquerque NM – Sunshine Theater 13.02.2025 US Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater 14.02.2025 US San Diego CA – Brick By Brick 15.02.2025 US San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge 16.02.2025 US Los Angeles, CA – 1720 17.02.2025 US Las Vegas, NV – Sinwave 19.02.2025 US Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater 20.02.2025 US Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theater 21.02.2025 US St Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall 22.02.2025 US Joliet, IL – The Forge 23.02.2025 US Cleveland, OH – TempleLive / The Asylum 24.02.2025 CA Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall 26.02.2025 CA Ottawa, ON – Overflow Brewing Company 27.02.2025 CA Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD 28.02.2025 US Worcester, MA – The Palladium (Upstairs) 01.03.2025 US Albany, NY – Empire Live 02.03.2025 US New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
EX DEO, the Juno nominated project of KATAKYLSM frontman Maurizio Iacono, will unleash their EP “Year Of The Four Emperors.” The EP is their first with Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) and will be released on January 10, 2025. The band will also embark on a tour of Europe that month in support of DARK FUNERAL and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE before heading to North America in the spring in support of SEPTICFLESH and VLTIMAS.
To commemorate the release announcement, the band have revealed the first single, ‘Vespasian,’ along with a lyric video which can be watched here:
Maurizio comments about the song: “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.”
“Let The Devil In” – European Winter Tour 2025 w/ DARK FUNERAL, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, KAMI NO IKARI Presented by Metal Hammer, metal.de & Decibel-Touring 03.01.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 04.01.2025 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 2 05.01.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino 07.01.2025 UK London – O2 Academy Islington 08.01.2025 FR Paris – La Machine du Moulin Rouge 09.01.2025 FR Toulouse – Le Bikini 10.01.2025 ES Burgos – Sala Andén 56 11.01.2025 ES Madrid – La Sala del WiZink Center 12.01.2025 ES Barcelona – Sala Razzmatazz 2 14.01.2025 FR Villeurbanne (Lyon) – La Rayonne 15.01.2025 IT Trezzo sull’Adda (MI) – Live Club 16.01.2025 CH Zurich – Komplex 457 17.01.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 18.01.2025 HU Budapest – Barba Negra 19.01.2025 HR Zagreb – Boogaloo 21.01.2025 AT Vienna – SimmCity 22.01.2025 SK Kosice – Collosseum Club 23.01.2025 PL Wroclaw – Centrum Koncertowe A2 24.01.2025 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 25.01.2025 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 26.01.2025 NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg * * w/ FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE only
30.01. – 03.02.2025 US Miami, FL – 70,000 Tons of Metal
“Modern Primitive In North America Tour 2025” w/ SEPTICFLESH, VLTIMAS Presented by Hard Impact Artist Management & Continental Touring USA 10.02.2025 US Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall 11.02.2025 US Dallas, TX – Granada Theater 12.02.2025 US Albuquerque NM – Sunshine Theater 13.02.2025 US Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater 14.02.2025 US San Diego CA – Brick By Brick 15.02.2025 US San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge 16.02.2025 US Los Angeles, CA – 1720 17.02.2025 US Las Vegas, NV – Sinwave 19.02.2025 US Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater 20.02.2025 US Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theater 21.02.2025 US St Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall 22.02.2025 US Joliet, IL – The Forge 23.02.2025 US Cleveland, OH – TempleLive / The Asylum 24.02.2025 CA Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall 26.02.2025 CA Ottawa, ON – Overflow Brewing Company 27.02.2025 CA Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD 28.02.2025 US Worcester, MA – The Palladium (Upstairs) 01.03.2025 US Albany, NY – Empire Live 02.03.2025 US New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
Juno Award-nominated symphonic death metal band EX DEO will unleash their epic new full-length album, The Thirteen Years Of Nero, this Friday, August 27, 2021 via Napalm Records! On The Thirteen Years Of Nero, the collective transports the listener back to Ancient Rome with 10 cinematic masterpieces that tell the conceptual story of the reign of Emperor Nero.
Today, following the release of their merciless new singles “Imperator”and “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” – featuring the powerful pipes of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes – the band offers a third new single, the sinister “The Head Of The Snake”. The track showcases an ominous, unrelenting battery of symphonic swirls amid orchestrally accented riffage and choral passages.
Frontman Maurizio Iacono says: “The centerpiece of all things NERO was his mother, Agrippina. She manipulated the strings of the senate and conspiracies to make sure her beloved son NERO would rule the world, she was the head of the snake with her deadly fangs of deceit. The song travels through her calculated sadistic mind.”
Watch the new lyric video for “The Head Of The Snake”HERE:
EX DEO returns with more massive, brutal soundscapes than ever on The Thirteen Years Of Nero! The Canadian unit is led by founding frontman Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm) and producer/guitarist Jean-François Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Despised Icon), with the stylings of Stephane Barbe (Kataklysm) on lead guitar, Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc.) on drums, Dano Apekian (Ashes of Eden) on bass and Clemens Wijers (Carach Angren, Lindemann) manning the intense orchestral score.
The Thirteen Years Of Nero pierces through the silence with its first auditory spear, “The Fall Of Claudius”, immediately drawing the listener in with a savagely heavy, grooving riff, ground-shaking swells and warning strings and horns. Discordant harmonies collide as a mosh-worthy battle riff chugs and pinches through the center of the song, showcasing the ruthlessness to come. “The Head Of The Snake” and unforgivingly immense “Britannia: The 9th At Camulodonum” balance sinister, spectral-like channels with up-tempo elements, racing like a chariot of symphonic death metal influences that careen the listener back to a sonic dimension of time forgotten. Standout opus “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” features the deft vocal stylings of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes, the album’s weightiest thunderous percussion work and a glistening guitar solo, while the embers of pulsing “The Fiddle & The Fire” spark as the track traverses methodically yet steadfastly, like an iron striking a blade. “Son Of The Deified” and “What Artist Dies In Me…” bestow some of the album’s most strikingly dynamic guitar work, as well as ominous instrumentals, orchestral and choral pathways, before closing with the superb epic “The Revolt of Galba”. The track ebbs and flows between grooving, eerie piano-laden riffs and crystal-clear flourishes bestrewn with soaring strings.
With The Thirteen Years Of Nero, EX DEO have released their finest work yet while telling a timeless story of political intrigue, suspicion, evil and tyranny!
Maurizio Iacono says about The Thirteen Years Of Nero: “When it comes to Ancient Rome, the content is long, rich and extensive, the personalities reflect every society imaginable from just, fair and generous to greed, evil and merciless. The world we live in today was shaped by Rome – it doesn’t take much see it all around you in the simplest things. For this record, it was the proper time to fallow the timeline of one Rome’s most controversial figures, Nero. On this album, we follow him through his thirteen-year journey as emperor of Rome and unveil the true face of one of the world’s most worshiped villains.”
The Thirteen Years Of Nero tracklisting: 1. The Fall of Claudius 2. Imperator 3. The Head of the Snake 4. Boudicca (Queen of the Iceni) Feat. Brittney Slayes 5. Britannia: The 9th at Camulodonum 6. Trial of the Gods (Intermezzo) 7. The Fiddle & the Fire 8. Son of the Deified 9. What Artist Dies in Me… 10. The Revolt of Galba
Juno Award-nominated symphonic death metal band EX DEO recently announced the release of their upcoming full-length album, The Thirteen Years Of Nero, out August 27, 2021 via Napalm Records! On The Thirteen Years Of Nero, the collective transports the listener back to Ancient Rome with 10 cinematic masterpieces that tell the conceptual story of the reign of Emperor Nero. Accented by sounds of ancient instruments like lyra and harp and detailing the harrowing stories of Nero’s surroundings, close allies and enemies, listeners will connect with intense psychological tones of political turmoil and paranoia.
Today, following the release of their bludgeoning first single “Imperator” and its equally brutal, bloody music video, EX DEO have revealed their standout second single, “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” featuring the powerful pipes of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes!
Frontman Maurizio Iacono says about “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)”: “Queen Boudicca has been a symbol of freedom and rebellion in England since her ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield defending her people and their beliefs. Rome, in full expansion and under the rule of emperor Nero, was on a mission to annex Britain as a Roman province after the death of King Prasutagus (Boudicca’s husband). The Roman treaty died, and so did peace.
The song embodies the tense exchange and mind frame of Boudicca against the Roman Empire’s invasion and occupation. We are thrilled that Brittney Slayes of Unleash The Archers accepted the invitation to guest and deliver a powerful performance on this song. There’s no one that better embodies the fighting spirit of Boudicca in metal than Brittney – the choice was clear. Prepare to be transported to ancient times of war and let the metal flow!”
Guest vocalist Brittney Slayes of Unleash The Archers adds: “I was beyond excited to get the invite to be a part of this project! I am a huge EX DEO fan, plus I love the history and mythology they always incorporate into their albums, so it was a huge honour. Not to mention getting to ‘play’ the role of the iconic and powerful Boudicca was the chance of a lifetime! I have always been inspired by the warrior queen of the Iceni and could not wait to lend my voice to her part. Here’s hoping everyone enjoys this track as much as I do!”
Watch the brand new music video for “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)”HERE
EX DEO returns with more massive, brutal soundscapes than ever on The Thirteen Years Of Nero! The Canadian unit is led by founding frontman Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm) and producer/guitarist Jean-François Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Despised Icon), with the stylings of Stephane Barbe (Kataklysm) on lead guitar, Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc.) on drums, Dano Apekian (Ashes of Eden) on bass and Clemens Wijers (Carach Angren, Lindemann) manning the intense orchestral score.
The Thirteen Years Of Nero pierces through the silence with its first auditory spear, “The Fall Of Claudius”, immediately drawing the listener in with a savagely heavy, grooving riff, ground-shaking swells and warning strings and horns. Discordant harmonies collide as a mosh-worthy battle riff chugs and pinches through the center of the song, showcasing the ruthlessness to come. “The Head Of The Snake” and unforgivingly immense “Britannia: The 9th At Camulodonum” balance sinister, spectral-like channels with up-tempo elements, racing like a chariot of symphonic death metal influences that careen the listener back to a sonic dimension of time forgotten. Standout opus “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” features the deft vocal stylings of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes, the album’s weightiest thunderous percussion work and a glistening guitar solo, while the embers of pulsing “The Fiddle & The Fire” spark as the track traverses methodically yet steadfastly, like an iron striking a blade. “Son Of The Deified” and “What Artist Dies In Me…” bestow some of the album’s most strikingly dynamic guitar work, as well as ominous instrumentals, orchestral and choral pathways, before closing with the superb epic “The Revolt of Galba”. The track ebbs and flows between grooving, eerie piano-laden riffs and crystal-clear flourishes bestrewn with soaring strings.
With The Thirteen Years Of Nero, EX DEO have released their finest work yet while telling a timeless story of political intrigue, suspicion, evil and tyranny!
Maurizio Iacono says about The Thirteen Years Of Nero: “When it comes to Ancient Rome, the content is long, rich and extensive, the personalities reflect every society imaginable from just, fair and generous to greed, evil and merciless. The world we live in today was shaped by Rome – it doesn’t take much see it all around you in the simplest things. For this record, it was the proper time to fallow the timeline of one Rome’s most controversial figures, Nero. On this album, we follow him through his thirteen-year journey as emperor of Rome and unveil the true face of one of the world’s most worshiped villains.”
The Thirteen Years Of Nero tracklisting: 1. The Fall of Claudius 2. Imperator 3. The Head of the Snake 4. Boudicca (Queen of the Iceni) Feat. Brittney Slayes 5. Britannia: The 9th at Camulodonum 6. Trial of the Gods (Intermezzo) 7. The Fiddle & the Fire 8. Son of the Deified 9. What Artist Dies in Me… 10. The Revolt of Galba
Four years after the release of The Immortal Wars (2017), Juno Award-nominated EX DEO returns with more massive, brutal soundscapes than ever on their highly anticipated upcoming full-length album, The Thirteen Years Of Nero, out August 27, 2021 via Napalm Records! The Canadian unit is led by founding frontman Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm) and producer/guitarist Jean-François Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Despised Icon), with the stylings of Stephane Barbe (Kataklysm) on lead guitar, Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc.) on drums, Dano Apekian (Ashes of Eden) on bass and Clemens Wijers (Carach Angren, Lindemann) manning the intense orchestral score.
On The Thirteen Years Of Nero, the Roman Empire inspired symphonic death metal band transports the listener back to Ancient Rome with 10 cinematic masterpieces that tell the emotional, conceptual story of the reign of Emperor Nero. Accented by sounds of ancient instruments like lyra and harp and detailing the harrowing stories of Nero’s surroundings, close allies and enemies, listeners will connect with intense psychological tones of political turmoil and paranoia!
Today, EX DEO has revealed a bludgeoning brand new track from The Thirteen Years Of Nero, entitled “Imperator”, alongside a brutal, cinematicmusic video. The track connects with a colossal, threatening introduction before slithering into its verses with low guitars, trudging drums and haunting, multi-layered vocal passages.
Frontman Maurizio Iacono says about “Imperator”: “We wanted to release a heavy hitting first single and there was no doubt that “Imperator” in all of its grandiose aura and power was the choice. On the album, the song introduces Nero as the new Emperor of Rome. For the video, we used acclaimed video director Scott Hansen and together we recreated a dinner party in true Nero style like you never seen before, you have been warned!”
Watch the brand new music video for “Imperator”HERE
The Thirteen Years Of Nero pierces through the silence with its first auditory spear, “The Fall Of Claudius”, immediately drawing the listener in with a savagely heavy, grooving riff, ground-shaking swells and warning strings and horns. Discordant harmonies collide as a mosh-worthy battle riff chugs and pinches through the center of the song, showcasing the ruthlessness to come. “The Head Of The Snake” and unforgivingly immense “Britannia: The 9th At Camulodonum” balance sinister, spectral-like channels with up-tempo elements, racing like a chariot of symphonic death metal influences that careen the listener back to a sonic dimension of time forgotten. Standout opus “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” features the deft vocal stylings of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes, the album’s weightiest thunderous percussion work and a glistening guitar solo, while the embers of pulsing “The Fiddle & The Fire” spark as the track traverses methodically yet steadfastly, like an iron striking a blade. “Son Of The Deified” and “What Artist Dies In Me…” bestow some of the album’s most strikingly dynamic guitar work, as well as ominous instrumentals, orchestral and choral pathways, before closing with the superb epic “The Revolt of Galba”. The track ebbs and flows between grooving, eerie piano-laden riffs and crystal-clear flourishes bestrewn with soaring strings.
With The Thirteen Years Of Nero, EX DEO have released their finest work yet while telling a timeless story of political intrigue, suspicion, evil and tyranny!
Maurizio Iacono says about The Thirteen Years Of Nero: “When it comes to Ancient Rome, the content is long, rich and extensive, the personalities reflect every society imaginable from just, fair and generous to greed, evil and merciless. The world we live in today was shaped by Rome – it doesn’t take much see it all around you in the simplest things. For this record, it was the proper time to fallow the timeline of one Rome’s most controversial figures, Nero. On this album, we follow him through his thirteen-year journey as emperor of Rome and unveil the true face of one of the world’s most worshiped villains.”
The Thirteen Years Of Nero tracklisting: 1. The Fall of Claudius 2. Imperator 3. The Head of the Snake 4. Boudicca (Queen of the Iceni) Feat. Brittney Slayes 5. Britannia: The 9th at Camulodonum 6. Trial of the Gods (Intermezzo) 7. The Fiddle & the Fire 8. Son of the Deified 9. What Artist Dies in Me… 10. The Revolt of Galba
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