This is the second album from Cage Fight, a metalcore band from the UK.
After 2022’s enjoyable Cage Fight and proving themselves in the live environment, Exuvia carries certain expectations of quality around these parts. Have Cage Fight managed to live up to these expectations, which include the hope that they’ve taken the next step up from their debut?
Thankfully, the answer is yes. Cage Fight have taken the bones of their debut album and fleshed it out with more depth and range this time around. Exuvia is more diverse and multifaceted, with all manner of stylistic influences that have made it into the band’s sound, enriching the core heart of snarling heaviness that Cage Fight exemplify.
Upon the central pillars of heaviness and aggression born from a love of 90s metal and hardcore have been built new structures that enhance this firm foundation. At various points you’ll encounter electronic components, expressive clean singing, deeper atmosphere, sharper melody, and improved songcraft, all of which feed into Exuvia‘s bold step forward.
Cage Fight have done exactly what they should have on their second record. The songwriting and production values have levelled up, and the band are making greater use of their talented singer’s range and ability. Of the latter, her voice is clearer and more powerful, with greater diversity of delivery. She puts in a strong performance, all-told. It would be easy to single her out as the music’s main focus, but in truth Exuvia offers up a well-rounded package; all aspects of the music have been tweaked and improved. The singer of Benighted appears on one track too, which is always nice to hear.
Packed with hooks and riffs, Exuvia is an enjoyable record. The brutal grooves will make you move whether you want to or not. When they appear, soaring melodies and clean singing lift you up, before the ever-threatening rampant hostility drags you down to earth once more.
Good work Cage Fight! Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 