Prototype

Grind is not my flavor, unless we're talking old Terrorizer or minutely influenced artists such as Bolt Thrower (not entirely sure I hear that anyway). Exhale piqued my curiosity because I had heard Gustav Elowson's percussion on related projects and he seemed a reliable source of tireless double bass and consistent but varied technique. And indeed, Exhale are in possession of a tested backbone in Elowson. His grace coupled with a seamlessly solid barrage of riffs make this album.

Nasum comparisons are inevitable, Inhale/Exhale, Exhale...yeah. The music is similar too, but Exhale are better songwriters and have presented us with a tighter, crisper package than the Nasum releases my ears have obliged.

It wouldn't be grind without shrieky pitched yelling, and it wouldn't be /death without obligatory attempts at emulating Chris Barnes or another gutteral death metal grandfather. I'm not complaining; they're well done, but one reason this album won't score higher is its willingness to merely worship. Exhale have things like compact songwriting going for them, would be interesting to hear original material. Prototype is fun and manages to steal my interest and keep it hostage in a genre that typically fails to engage my senses, but long-running Nasum fans will likely see this as little more than savvy idolatry.

+1 point for the Dawn of the Dead sample in 'Stängda Dörrar'.