So what happens when you have ex/current FACEDOWN, 6 FEET UNDER, and AT THE GATES members joining forces with two original members of an under-rated Thrash Metal band?  THE HAUNTED! That's right, THE HAUNTED are back with a vengeance after some uncertainty within the line-up.  Rest assured their fourteen song opus entitled "Exit Wounds" is a return to form and then some.  This album serves up one hulking slab of Extreme/Thrash Metal.  Nestled comfortably between albums "The Haunted Made Me Do it, and "Revolver," "Exit Wounds" explores the heavier side of THE HAUNTED.

The album opens with "317" an instrumental which kicks off with sounds of a beating heart, and builds to a heavy thrash metal etude complete with dual harmonies before the absolute destruction that is "Cutting Teeth" ensues.  At this point any thoughts that the band has lost a step in its' fifteen years are laid to rest. THE HAUNTED are back heavier than ever due in part to engineer Tue Madsen (SUICIDE SILENCE, DARK TRANQULITY, SICK OF IT ALL) at the helm delivering copious amounts of production greatness.  The mixes are thick, and punchy, as one would expect.  Although "Exit Wounds" is a high-octane thrash ride I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the great hooks within the choruses on tracks such as "Psychonaut," and the masterpiece "Time (Will Not Heal.)"  The guitar harmonies used on the aforementioned tracks are both hauntingly beautiful whilst maintaining an aggressive dissonance, which sets the tracks apart from the rest.  Chuck Billy of TESTAMENT is also featured as a guest vocalist on "Time (Will Not Heal) and Trendkiller," adding yet another presence to this already stacked line-up. I can hear definite influences throughout such as LAMB OF GOD on "My Salvation," SLAYER on "Cutting Teeth," as well as TESTAMENT and even PANTERA on "All I Have."

The latter half of the album is chock full of fast paced thrashy numbers that old school fans will be sure to love.  Finishing out the album is one of the strongest tracks entitled "Ghost In The Machine."  This song has it all, a dark atmospheric intro, all out thrash attack, and an epic chorus with some nearly clean-throated vocals.  This song epitomizes what the band is about in 2014, a take no prisoners, heavy, thrashy sound with hooks and dark energy throughout. Although a very strong album THE HAUNTED are not re-inventing the wheel here.  All of the tracks are heavy Thrash, with bits of groove, and Modern Metal thrown in for good measure. "Exit Wounds" while not wholly original still delivers at a high level, and gives the listener enough variation to keep the attention throughout.  THE HAUNTED are back!