Artist: Alesya
Country: Mexico
Label: Svart Hat Productions
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2024
Mexican Alesya was born from the minds of two lads each with some experience within the underground Black Metal scene, but in this formation, ‘Hex De Tristesse Et Peste’ is their first achievement. A 3-track demo that was launched into the world via the also Mexican Svart Hat Productions at the end of last year.
With its three tracks, this demo clocks in at just under 20 minutes, making it decent in length and able to demonstrate what this band is capable of doing – the main purpose of a demo tape. Alesya’s take on the Black Metal genre is one that is very atmospheric, with clear resemblances to bands like Evilfeast, Burzum or the many works of Swedish Black Metal centipede Swartadauþuz.
The basis for ‘Hex De Tristesse Et Peste’ is a blistering pace, icy riffs and piercing vocals – all poured into a raw but dense production. But while all this together alone might not make for a very elevating whole, this is only the foundation of the music. On top of this, the band lays a more than well-executed and at times even breath taking heroic epic in the form of beautiful melodies. Not only with catchy riffs and the even impressive leads and acoustics, but also the keyboards fit in excellently and form a wonderful contrast to the rough ground on which all this is built.
‘Hex De Tristesse Et Peste’ definitely is a wonderful demo which promises some great things ahead. If you are enamoured of that sound that bands like Paysage d’Hiver and Evilfeast have made somewhat more appreciated over the last decade, you would do well to give this a chance.
