Bands on the front lines of evolving music really take the brunt of criticism. They may not have the most fans or be the most popular, but they’re heading where music is going to be. The inventors of music break barriers and do it very bravely, often perusing a career of hardship to achieve their dream of sharing thoughts and emotions through the music that describes them.

Inhale Exhale is one of the closer bands toward the frontline of innovation. Not to say they don’t have any fans, but let’s face it, they’re not the most mainstream style of music. These guys have stumbled upon a very distinct sound that any listener of Inhale Exhale will associate them to. They’re recognizable but not repetitive. Possessing the ability to draw fans in and baffle them with what direction of a song at the same time with their music isn’t something every musician wants to do, but Inhale Exhale makes a habit of doing it, embracing their awesome creativity.

I think each member of Inhale Exhale has a crucial part in defining this band. Ryland Raus’s vocals next to John LaRussa’s signature guitar tone and style mix extremely well with bassist Brian Pitmann. Even after various drummer change ups, Tony Saffell seems to have Inhale Exhale’s previous drumming style down along with occasionally injecting some of his own new ideas.

Even though they all have their own “sound” in music, it’s the culmination of the four that make up Inhale Exhale. Movement not only brings them together for another great release, but I think it showcases more of Inhale Exhale’s reflection on the metal core genre that they manipulate and mold with their music.

Inhale Exhale has a distinct way of making music. It’s either easy to follow, such as “Party Drama”, but also easy to get lost like in “Under Sheets Stained In Blood”. There’s a high level of creativity that is naturally built into these songs sending them in various directions in the three to four minutes you’re listening to them.

Inhale Exhale doesn’t set listeners up to be lost; they coin their complex and technical ideas by breaking the barriers of music. Who says you need to sing a chorus six times in a song for it to be great? If you understand this music, in all its complexity, I feel that you become smarter and more aware of what is going on in the songs. These guys really keep you on your feet.

As a whole Movement cuts down on a lot of the melodic feel that dominates metal these days. They still include a fair amount of it, though less than other albums I think, but its little enough to set them very far apart. In some cases it’s more sporadic than other albums thus showing Inhale Exhale’s true style.

“Carpe Diem” and “Party Drama” are two others I really enjoy. “Carpe Diem” isn’t too sporadic, but brings a lot of Inhale Exhale’s stylistic values to the forefront. Similar to “Party Drama”, my favorite in terms of guitar riffs, it’s a little easier to follow next to contrasting tracks like “Under Sheets Stained In Blood”.

Movement is an equally enjoyable album as it is an evolution of Inhale Exhale into more of what they already are. It won’t make me abandoned in personal favorites like “Fluvanna”, “It’s Myself Vs. Being A Man”, and “Rooms” but there are some songs on Movement that are really growing on me.

Movement leaves a lot of the typical sounds you experience with metal core at the door and just amplifies the intensity and creativity of Inhale Exhale. It seems as though there are just a ton of ideas among these guys and they accomplish the daunting task of merging the best of them into something that defines themselves and relatively unmatched style of metal core.

Movement – Inhale Exhale    4/5 Stars     Essentials: Carpe Diem, Party Drama, Low, Under Sheets Stained In Blood