Solid State Records has been trotting out an impressive array of young, heavy-hitting metal/hardcore bands lately, as their recent “Young Bloods” tours can attest. Having rocked stages with The Chariot, August Burns Red, Twelve Gauge Valentine and Destroy The Runner earlier this year, Inhale Exhale is the latest Solid State band vying for its fans’ listening attention. Off-handedly, perhaps the most interesting fact about this band is that their bass player had previously played with Relient K. Now counting Brian Pittman (yes, that Brian Pittman) among their ranks, Inhale Exhale present a promising debut in The Lost, The Sick, The Sacred, a thematic look into God’s love (”the sacred”) and how it affects those who are lost and seeking healing in their lives.
Initially, the most impressive element of Inhale Exhale’s debut is its incredibly focused attack. The record’s eleven songs rush by without much hesitation or pause, showcasing the band’s musical ferocity, which is unparalleled even by hardcore’s standards. Review