What makes The Law by Exhorder notable?

The Law is considered a pioneering album within the groove metal genre, influencing many bands that followed. Its unique blend of thrash and groove elements earned it critical acclaim, despite limited commercial success; it remains a touchstone for fans and musicians alike. Released in 1992, The Law was Exhorder's second album, following their impactful debut, Slaughter in the Vatican. At this point, the band was striving to solidify their place in the emerging groove metal scene alongside contemporaries like Pantera.

How many songs are on The Law?

The Law has 9 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

The Law

Exhorder · 1992

38 min · 9 tracks · thrash metal

A relentless fusion of groove and thrash metal, laced with raw aggression and intricate guitar work.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Soul Search Me — This opening track sets a furious tone with its aggressive riffs and haunting vocals, encapsulating the album's raw intensity.
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Unforgiven — The song showcases Exhorder's ability to blend melodic hooks with heavy grooves, illustrating their distinctive sound that would later influence many metal acts.
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The Law — The title track combines fierce lyrical themes with complex rhythms, serving as a defining moment for the band's identity within the genre.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

53 /100

Foothills

Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

The album blends thrash and groove elements effectively, though its cohesion is somewhat uneven.

What we noticed

The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high-energy tone, followed by several songs that incorporate slower, groove-oriented sections.
Vocals alternate between aggressive shouting and melodic lines, creating a dynamic contrast within the tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Soul Search Me 4:50
2 Unforgiven 3:53
3 I Am the Cross 4:32
4 Un‐Born Again 2:49
5 Into the Void 6:06
6 The Truth 3:25
7 The Law 4:48
8 Incontinence 3:45
9 (Cadence of) The Dirge 4:32

What to play next

Listen next

Mourn the Southern Skies

2019

Go back to

Slaughter in the Vatican

1990

Full Exhorder discography Artists like Exhorder

groove metal thrash metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata