Float Face Down

I don't like to judge books by their covers, but sometimes when you see a moniker and album title, the phrase "pretentious deathcore" can't help but enter the mind's periphery. Only one component of the phrase rings true for Exitium Verum, and it's not the result of its Latin title. Deathcore is the realm in which Float Face Down exist, but like many things from New Jersey (at least according to MTV), the elements here are bulked-up and stripped of their finer qualities, like technical riffing and polyrhythmic timing. Instead, the band concentrate on a blunt, breakdown-heavy delivery, with classic Floridian death metal riffs, leads and blast beats. Fortunately, their greatest asset ― the breakdowns ― are varied enough to keep the interest of most listeners. And, when faced with ten other bands with guitarists each all trying to win gold at the Fret board Olympics, that isn't altogether a bad thing.