Hexis are a blackened hardcore band from Copenhagen, Denmark who are about to release their first full length album: Abalam.
I am really interested in how black metal has evolved and changed. As a fan of the genre for some time -19 years and going on strong – I have seen it wind and wander dark areas, avant-garde, and raw sounds. Some “trve kvltists” say this is for the worse, wanting to keep black metal in its raw and pure form of haunting screams and bee drone medieval influenced guitar. Some say, that the movement of black metal into other genres helps to keep the genre current and fresh.
This band is the latter, the mixture of genres this band uses fascinated me. The full raw power of hardcore, blast beats, emotionally vacant droning feedback opening to walls of heavily distorted guitar, and enraged growls of black metal. All these sounds paint a vivid picture of destructive negativity and nihilism Hexis' album Abalam encompasses all of those characteristics.
From the first track 'Faciem' it invites you to a place of extreme emotion. The repetitive drone and build up evokes a dark place, a place of blinding anger. The album keeps this cadence and takes you on a journey; the listener, a witness to chaos, emotion, and dark apocalyptic thoughts. It ends with 'Neglexerunt', finishing with maddened wails and nihilistic guitar feedback. While most of the songs only hit below the three minute mark, the album encircles you, wave after barbarous wave and never slows down.
I really like albums like this. I think an album that takes you on a journey, makes you feel what the emotion of the song, and leaves you with a single focused thought. This is what makes a great record. Hexis is a band which does this well. I listened to this album over and over. It seemed to always change; small notes unnoticed became clear, powerful vocals became increasingly emotional and driven. Their album is dark, cold, and full of animosity; this is a right step in the future of this sub-genre of black metal.
