UK metal band Cage Fight<\/strong> have announced their second studio album, Exuvia<\/em>, set for release on May 1 via Spinefarm. The news arrives alongside a new single, “Un Bon Souvenir”, and its accompanying video \u2014 an unflinching statement of intent from a band leveling up in both sound and substance.<\/p>\n Comprised of vocalist Rachel Aspe<\/strong>, guitarist James Monteith<\/strong>, drummer Nick Plews<\/strong>, and bassist Will Horsman<\/strong>, Cage Fight<\/strong> continue to channel hardcore’s raw physicality while pushing into more expansive and emotionally charged territory.<\/p>\n Lyrically, “Un Bon Souvenir” pulls no punches. Aspe<\/strong> explains: “Don’t bite the hand that feeds. This song is a reference to a previous experience in a band controlled by a toxic, manipulative person. It’s a reminder that bringing people down won’t elevate you. A challenging experience, but as he once said, it’s still a good memory, \u00e7a reste un bon souvenir.”<\/p>\n The video expands on those themes of power and deception. “The video depicts the unraveling of the protagonist’s false world, built on manipulation and control,” Aspe<\/strong> says. “Though he initially appears strong, his convictions are fragile\u2026 Once seeming to be the rock of this world, he is exposed as a snake. This is the collapse of a false king.”<\/p>\n Recorded by Sam Bloor<\/strong> at Lower Lane Studios and mixed by Jim Pinder<\/strong> (Sleep Token<\/strong>, Malevolence<\/strong>), Exuvia<\/em> preserves the old-school hardcore heart of Cage Fight<\/strong> \u2014 meaty grooves, pummeling rhythms, and “a wave of furious anger that feels like a punch to the gut.” At the same time, the album broadens the band’s palette with layered atmospheres and melodic depth, making their sound feel bigger, tighter, and more epic than ever.<\/p>\n Across its 11 tracks, Exuvia<\/em> shows a band unafraid to experiment. “Pick Your Fighter” features guest vocals from Julien Truchan<\/strong> of Benighted<\/strong> and draws unlikely inspiration from the French pop track “Et c’est parti\u2026” by N\u00e2diya<\/strong> \u2014 even if its crushing heaviness gives nothing away.<\/p>\n The album also marks a major milestone for Aspe, who wrote all the lyrics herself for the first time. The results are deeply personal, tackling anxiety, assault, online harassment, and grief.<\/p>\n Visually, Exuvia<\/em> ties these themes together through its striking cover art, shot by Manuel Acquualeni<\/strong>, which depicts a radiation mask. Pre-orders are available here.<\/p>\n