EXHUMED
‘Red Asphalt’
2026, Relapse Records

Ladies, gentlemen, gore fiends and grind heads, start your engines: EXHUMED are back. Hard to believe, but true, the band led by Matt Harvey has been thrashing like maniacs for 36 years! Back now with newest opus ‘Red Asphalt’ one must ask the question: is this album a new era for the band (yes, they have eras) or does it take a more familiar road? Come on with me, because life, as they say, is a highway.

Beginning life as a CARCASS clone, the first era of EXHUMED is truly their first three albums, with ‘Anatomy Is Destiny’ being the crowning achievement there (and one of the best covers, ever. Google Image it). And then, well, the machine had to go in for repairs and there was a hiatus and then… Every cylinder fired, at once.

There are, at least to me, three album cycles that represent different yet entirely insular versions of what EXHUMED represents musically and creatively as well. I have no idea if this is intentional or not, likely not, but I stand by it. In the winding trails of extreme metal, EXHUMED are continuously their own unique brand. The last epoch saw ‘Death Revenge’ be one of the best deathgrind albums, ever, EXHUMED long since outgrown aping their influences and then becoming influences themselves. And now, the ride brings us to another fork in the road with ‘Red Asphalt’ – also the most recent of the last three albums. Born to race (apologies to THE CROWN).

One word that consistently sticks in my head when listening to EXHUMED is fun – the band is just a damn joy to listen to, every riff razor sharp and every bass lick bubbling just below Ross Sewage’s low end (goes for both). Wasting absolutely no time, the pedal is firmly placed to the floor with lead off track “Unsafe At Any Speed.” Answer me, do you hear the fucking bass? The band sounds as vital as ever, with deadly assurance of exactly what makes them tick. The drum fills are tasteful and well articulated. The recording is punchy. Oh, and the breakdown is so great you should double check your roadside assistance package.

I think “Shock Trauma” might be one of the most straight up brutal songs EXHUMED have written. I go back to it often and for me, it is a clear standout on the album.

At this point, truly, if you are a fan of what EXHUMED do then ‘Red Asphalt’ will be a treat. It possesses bits of each era of the band thus far, with delicious production so nothing goes unheard. For evidence of this, look no further than ‘Symphorophilia’ which absolutely batters the listener for its entire brief runtime, just like in the old days!

Is it high brow thinking man’s metal? Not really. Is it fun as hell? Absolutely. Should you take it for a ride? Well, buckle up first.

4.0 Out Of 5.0