Exesion, Promise, Waste, and Rot

Taking their name from medical terminology refering to the “…removal of part or all of a structure or organ…” Indiana’s Exesion are dead set on bludgeoning you with your recently excised left arm. Combining an unrelenting blend of grind and death metal with a light splattering of progressive elements, these guys lay down seven solid tracks for their debut effort on Innerstrength Records.

Encompassing the corrosive blend of extreme elements is a definitive industrial residue that leaves telltale textures ground into each song. The result is an aggressive and caustic approach to pummeling metal.

Down the Nine
“Down the Nine” wastes no time getting right down to business with a big scream and massive, chugging riffs. The vocals are fairly deep and gruff, yet completely understandable — they reach into higher realms on extending screams. The drumming is solid, keeping you on your toes with plenty of blasts and tempo shifts. Throughout this song is a decent, well-masked melody carried through the guitars when the band isn’t getting all barbaric with crushing riffs.

Double Speak
This next one has a great opening series of riffs before settling into a chug-stop-chug tempo that’ll have you head banging along in no time. Along with the bruising pace is a decent groove that’s deceptive yet effective in carrying the momentum nicely along through various vocal deliveries and furious rhythmic blasts. If you neck isn’t sore after this one you’re probably dead on your feet.

Conundrum
There’s a nice industrial feel to the opening few moments on this one as the vocals come in. The varied vocals on the track give it some depth and variety as the rest of the guys chug along with massive guitars and spine twisting tempo shifts. The guitars around the 1:30 mark are pretty sweet. Make sure you’ve done some warm up stretches before the quick break down just before 3:30. The track ends with a brief sound clip.

Bed Whores
There’s an increased urgency and layered textures to this next track as the group gets into a series of blasting drums and driving riffs. It’s got some of the quicker vocal patterns on it and is definitely a favorite for myself. Aggression and violence are all that’s left in the wake of this impressive track.

Migration
“Migration” starts out much slower and much, much darker than the previous songs. The vocals are distant and deeper whie the guitars have a sort of a Slayer feel to them. That’s all obliterated at the 1:10 mark as frantic drum blasts interrupt the flow and the band gets down to their insidious business of peeling your facial skin with chugging riffs and aggressive vocal attack.

Remora
Another slower, more dramatic start to “Remora” sets it apart from the rest of the disc. The track builds slowly to a groove filled, pummeling pace just before the 30 second mark with an extended guttural growl. Overall this is a bruising track that plods along like some behemoth hellbent on sheer destruction. There’s that industrial feel to the track that alos helps the band separate themselves from the rest of the grinding, death metal bands out there.

Tenzero
The final song on Promise, Waste, and Rot is a chugging monstrosity of a track . The band has definitely saved the best for last, combining all their efforts into this brooding beast. Massive riffs and deep, guttural vocals hit hard and often as the rhythm section lays waste to their instruments.

~ ~ ~

Additional Notes:
N/A