Cage Fight – Exuvia
Spinefarm Records
8,5/10,0
Brief:
The word ‘exuvia’ refers to the outer skin that’s shed by creatures like arachnids, crustaceans and insects, giving way for a new stage of life. It’s the perfect title for Cage Fight’s new, second album, ‘Exuvia’, that finds the band in a time of change.
“With ‘Exuvia’, we took a step back and reflected on where we wanted to take things next,” says Cage Fight guitarist James Monteith. “Our first record [2022’s self-titled] happened quickly: it came out of Covid, we had this crazy momentum with writing, and we just rolled with it. On this new record, we explored deeper in terms of songwriting and melody, and also got to know each other better as musicians.”
‘Exuvia’ is Cage Fight’s first record with new bassist Will Horsman, who joins original members James, vocalist Rachel Aspe, and drummer Nick Plews. “Will helped breathe a whole new life into the band in terms of musical ideas,” James says, adding that Will also wrote the lyrics for two tracks on the album, ‘Deathstalker’ and ‘The Hammer Crush’. “He was a big part of this new approach.”
The result is the blistering, 11-track ‘Exuvia’. Recorded by Sam Bloor at Lower Lane Studios and mixed by Jim Pinder (Sleep Token, Malevolence), ‘Exuvia’ retains the raw, old school hardcore heart of Cage Fight – vibrating with meaty grooves, pummelling rhythms, and a wave of furiosity that feels like a punch to the gut. But it also explores more multi-layered terrains, atmospheres and melodies – making Cage Fight sound bigger, tighter and more epic than ever before. On it, Cage Fight prove they aren’t afraid to experiment, and have a bit of fun. A case in point is the track ‘Pick Your Fighter’, which features Julien Truchan from Benighted on guest vocals, and was inspired by a French pop song – ‘Et c’est parti…’ by Nâdiya – though you’d never guess it from the song’s crushing heaviness.
The rest of the lyrics on ‘Exuvia’ were written by Rachel. It was the first time she had ever written lyrics, and they are deeply personal. After experiencing a traumatic event that threatened to pull Cage Fight apart, Rachel found she turned to journalling to help her process her experience. This journalling became the lyrics for the track ‘I Hate Your Guts’.
Rachel explores multiple experiences in her lyrics like anxiety, assault and dealing with grief. The expansive final track, ‘Élégie’, is about losing her grandfather, and the regret that can come from things left unsaid. On ‘Pig’, she calls out the creepy men who send women unsolicited messages online, while the title track was inspired by her grandmother, who is currently battling cancer, and who also helped Rachel write the lyrics for this particular song.
The cover art of the album, shot by photographer Manuel Acquualeni, depicts a radiation mask, connecting both to Rachel’s experience with her grandmother, and to the album’s title. It also represents healing – something Rachel feels she has achieved by opening up in her lyrics. “At the beginning, I felt nervous about doing this,” she says. “But now, I just feel excited.”
All of Cage Fight feel pumped for this next chapter, and to perform these new songs live – since their inception the band have become known for their visceral, high energy live performances.
[Edited Press Release]
Tracklist:
1. Confined
2. Oxygen
3. Pig
4. Pick Your Fighter
5. Un Bon Souvenir
6. Deathstalker
7. Le Déni
8. Exuvia
9. The Hammer Crush
10. IHYG (I Hate Your Guts)
11. Élégie
Main Focus Tracks:
- Oxygen
- Pig
- Pick Your Fighter
- Un Bon Souvenir
Other Recommended Tracks:
- Deathstalker
- Exuvia
- The Hammer Crush
Line-Up:
Rachel Aspe – Vocals
James Monteith – Guitar
Nick Plews – Drums
Will Horsman – Bass
Comments:
Exuvia showcases the evolution of Cage Fight as a band. Delivering technical metalcore with dynamic musical variations and powerful production, the album is further elevated by the killer vocals of Rachel Aspe, who absolutely rips through every track.
Contacts:
Video:
Selected Discography:
Cage Fight – 2022
Exuvia – 2026
Photo credit: band