Extol are back with “The One and the Many,” the first taste of their upcoming album Aura of Decay, due November 6 through Solid State Records, with publicity handled by Atom Splitter PR.
After more than a decade without a new full length record, the Norwegian metal veterans waste no time reminding listeners what makes them different. “The One and the Many” sucker punches you square in the jaw with shifting rhythms, technical guitar work, aggressive drumming and a structure that refuses to settle into anything predictable.
For longtime Extol fans, this is exactly the kind of music we have been waiting to hear.
One of my favorite parts of the track is the vocal mixture. Peter Espevoll and Ole Børud bring different textures to the song, and those contrasting voices work extremely well against the constantly moving instrumentation. The musicianship is technical without losing the aggression that made Extol stand out in the first place.
The song also rewards repeated listens. Karl Aksel Skjæringrud, a Christian Metal Group moderator from Norway, told me that while he initially wanted a little more guitar or bass in the mix, the song continued to grow on him. He compared some of its musical direction more closely to Fleshkiller than older Extol and praised Ole Børud’s vocals, while saying he would love to hear Peter Espevoll layered over Ole in places for an even heavier effect.
“It takes some listening,” Karl said, noting that after several plays he began appreciating the track more, especially when hearing it alongside songs from Undeceived.
Lyrically, “The One and the Many” tackles modern tribalism, ideological division and the tension between individual identity and collective thinking. Christer Espevoll has explained that the song reflects a culture where truth can feel increasingly relative while tribal beliefs become stronger. The unsettled subject matter fits the music perfectly, with abrupt transitions and jarring changes reinforcing the tension behind the lyrics.
The return of Christer Espevoll alongside Peter Espevoll, Ole Børud and David Husvik makes this new chapter even more exciting. The band has hinted that Aura of Decay will contain elements reminiscent of the darker atmosphere of Burial, while still carrying forward everything Extol has developed musically over the years.
If “The One and the Many” is the introduction, Aura of Decay has my attention.
My only hope is that this ends up being one of the lighter songs on the album, because if Extol plans to go heavier from here, November cannot get here soon enough.
