Exhumed & Iron Reagan

Exhumed and Iron Reagan put out two very strong records last year, and with the release of this split twelve-inch so soon into 2014, they show no signs of slowing down. The record is less a sign that the bands are currently enjoying some prolonged creative period rather than one of their pragmatism; the announcement of this split coincides with a short tour, making this the aural equivalent of a victory lap. Exhumed's brand of death metal has typically worked best on stage rather than in the studio, which is what made last year's Necromancy such a pleasant surprise. In this context, even though their Minor Threat/Negative Approach covers sound phoned in, they'd understandably make for a fun highlight in a live setting. Iron Reagan make better use of their side of the wax with their tight twisted fury consistently hitting all the right spots.