Exhausted Down To The Wire EP Review
Exhausted
Down To The Wire EP
Self-Released
2026
Sioux Falls, South Dakota has some seriously mean Metal brewing in the form of Groove/Thrash outfit Exhausted, and chances are most people have no idea. While the band is new to me, the press materials reveal a lineup featuring members of notable acts such as Tennessee Murder Club, Angerot, and Nodes Of Ranvier. With an EP already under their belts, Exhausted are now preparing to unleash their latest offering.
The new EP, “Down To The Wire”, was engineered by the band themselves under the guidance of Dave Vandiggity. While I wasn't familiar with his work beforehand, it's clear he's helping steer the ship in the right direction. Despite clocking in at only three tracks, this EP packs a serious punch. It's well-produced, aggressive, and loaded with the kind of attitude and menace that demands attention.
Although Exhausted are labeled as a Thrash/Groove Metal band, I hear a stronger Death Metal influence throughout, with flashes of Metalcore woven into the mix. It reminds me of the kind of releases that were coming out through Prosthetic Records in the early 2000s. Thankfully, it's not all blunt-force trauma and throat punches. The band incorporates enough melodic moments to keep things dynamic, giving listeners a chance to breathe between the beatdowns.
Musically, Exhausted are firing on all cylinders. The riffs are crushing, the lead work is sharp, and the rhythm section locks everything together with precision and power. The vocals are the one area that feels somewhat inconsistent. They're not bad by any means, but at times they seem more suited to the Metalcore scene than the Thrash label the band carries. That's ultimately a matter of taste, but there are moments when they feel slightly out of step with the music surrounding them.
“Down To The Wire” arrives at the end of June, and if you like your Metal nasty, aggressive, and steeped in that early-2000s Extreme Metal spirit, don't sleep on this one. Exhausted will run you over, throw it into reverse, and do it all over again.
Favorite track – “Zero Below”.