siLLy puPPy EXHAUSTION is one of many newly formed bands that has taken a time machine back a few decades for inspiration rather than looking to the contemporary vastness of the metal universe. This band formed in 2020 in Verona, Italy and features Elia M. [Elia Mirandola] (guitar, vocals), Federico "V" [Federico Dalla Benetta] (bass) and Luca L. [Luca Ligabo] (drums) with members also playing in Nero or the Fall of Rome and Riul Doamnei.

COLD DEATH EMBRACE is the band’s debut EP and features five tracks that only add up to 21 1/2 minutes. EXHAUSTION pretty much revives the early cauldrons of extreme metal in the vein of Venom and Celtic Frost where speed metal, first wave black metal and primeval thrash metal still had not found independence of each other. This band’s sound also has that punk delivery style in the style of Motorhead which gives the impression that this authentically retro experience could’ve come out in the early 1980s.

This is groovy metal with a black’n’roll swagger with caustic guitar riffs, distinct bass grooves and a lazy keep the timing percussive drive. Lead vocaslit Elia M. has channeled his inner Lemmy with that same raspy kinda thrash, sorta death metal bravado. Some of the grooves make me want to start singing “Ace of Spades” but the band is just distinct enough to have its own persona. The thundering nature of style is profound with speed laced riffing hogging the limelight but the band is tight and the instrumental interplay is impressive.

While excellently performed, COLD DEATH EMBRACE unfortunately lacks memorable tracks. The track “War Flags” is perhaps the best of the lot with a nice varying intro and then a rampaging crust punk sort of delivery with emphatic declarative vocals growling above the din. All in all this is a decent debut but for my liking not only is this my favorite retro style of 80s metal but EXHAUSTION doesn’t quite muster up enough creative mojo to really sound like anything other than a tribute band on its way to individuality. If the entire album was like the final track it would be much better.