Exit the King, Self-Titled EP (CD, 2005)

Label: Old Bulletproof Records (OBP01)
UPC: 859700015711

Debut EP by Austin, TX, band Exit the King, released in 2005 by Old Bulletproof Records (tidbit: this was a short-lived label run by "infamous" Austin attorney Adam Reposa).

Notes:

-Josh Wardrip: guitar & vocals; Colby Holliday: bass; Andy Miles: drums
-Recorded and mixed by Josh Wardrip in 2005 at Orphic Studios, Austin (At All Cost, Mala Suerte, Architects, Trifle Tower, Thumbscrew, 25 Dollar Massacre, tons of other TX bands)
-Mastered by Nick Landis at Terra Nova Mastering, Austin

Track list:

1. Carthorse
2. Teorema
3. Ornithology
4. The Persecution and Assassination of Aldo Nova as Performed by the Arbiters of Taste under the Direction of Tristan Tzara
5. Yawning for the Guillotine

Reviews:

“One of the joys of SXSW is walking around the 200-plus venues and having something catch your ear. It took 24 minutes for this to happen, when the organized noise of Exit the King was erupting from a tent. As if thrash metal and John Coltrane got in a head-on collision, the Austin-based group is a demanding, almost psychotic listen, but certainly talented.” —Nick Brandon, Go & Do Michigan

“…probably the best self-released debut I’ve ever gotten my hands on…. [A] mix between the rawness of Ed Gein and Ion Dissonance’s uncanny ability to harness chaos into memorable songwriting. While being dizzyingly complex and caustic, Exit the King have obviously spent a lot of time learning to capture their energy and talent and turn it into memorable compositions…. Exit the King have thoroughly kicked my ass with this debut EP.” —Tyler, Deadtide.com

“Austin hardcore trio Exit the King debuts with whips, spaz, and five hiccups. Furious and stressful, as all good hardcore should be, the King is a jackhammer on the fritz: slowing down and speeding up while destroying everything in its path.” —Darcie Stevens, Austin Chronicle

“The latest gem to cross my desk is the debut EP from Austin natives Exit the King…. There is so much going on in these songs as they’re constantly evolving. And yet they flow quite well, something that is often lost when bands attempt complex time signatures and dramatic stop-and-go antics…. I fully expect Exit the King to bring big things to the table with their future releases. This is definitely a band you will be hearing about a lot.” —Michael Phillips, Scenepointblank.com

“Complex math metal that takes from the Fall of Troy and early Dillinger Escape Plan for a nutty brand of go-get-‘em rock.” —Brian Shultz, PunkNews.org

“…a healthy dose of proggier and more technical styles in the high level of playing and the complex/crazy structures of the songs…. But it’s only when they all come together that you can see how impressive the entire package is. Unlike many of their peers, they have a sense of dynamics, dropping instruments in and out, changing time and tempos, never missing a beat anywhere.” —KVRX (91.7 FM)