Artist: Hexenshade
Country: Argentina
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital
Year: 2025
Hexenshade from Argentina, formed in May 2024, is a relatively new one-man band. Yet, with ‘The Revelation Of Doom……’ the project is already delivering its second full-length album, in addition to three short players. Woryon apparently is not the person to sit still, but while such a high output is not seldomly a sign of a lack of self-criticism, this project’s new album is definitely an interesting piece of music if you like your Black Metal as First Wave-based as possible.
The overall aesthetics as portrayed on the cover artwork of this digital-only full-length might already give away most hints of what’s to follow musically, but I am sure hardly anyone will be disappointed if this appeals to you. Hexenshade basically takes the most fundamental parts of Bathory’s harshest Black Metal and adds little bits and pieces of Venom, early Sarcófago, pre-‘Reign In Blood’ Slayer and ‘Endless Pain’-era Kreator to the mix. The result is some super minimalist and non-trendy Black Metal that easily couldn’t been recorded some four decades ago. The gnarly guitars, rumbling bass and especially the static drums: its all as authentic as anything that literally comes from those roaring mid 80’s. That time when bands were exploring the boundaries of evil.
The bass-heaviness and simple song structures might also trigger certain appreciation from people who hold band such as Barathrum, Necromantia or Mystifier in high regard. Some of these band’s occult and downright evil atmosphere is also conveyed in these eleven tracks. Although there are loads of bands in contemporary Black Metal that like to build on these essential early Black Metal cornerstones, Hexenshade is definitely one of the most convincing acts I stumbled upon in recent years. If you like the bands mentioned above or Necrohammer, Countess or Megiddo: be sure to give this a shot!
