Doomsayer

Italian heavy metallers Hextar came across my radar upon the release of their self-titled EP back in 2020. While striking a strong chord, they went rather silent for a few years, and I almost forgot about them. That is, until the release of Doomsayer, a disc that embellishes a bit on the power-focused passages with tints of an epic influence. Typically, I find that to be rather hit-or-miss, but since nothing is really overdone in that realm, this feels perfectly organic.

In other words, Doomsayer is void of overly ambitious synth-cheese and choir-esque vocals and doesn’t overstay its welcome when it comes to repetition and epic buildup. Instead, it tampers with these toppings while addressing a heavy bulk of traditional riffing as the main draw paired with precise and compelling vocals. Together, the result makes for beautiful melodies that don’t lose the heavy foundation, managing to swing swiftly between the two. That’s key to the success of a style not terribly uncommon.

Depending where you fall on the album, you’ll find different levels of emphasis on each tactic. "Hour Of Glory" is one of my absolute favorites, bending a longer build into a feel-good banger with a ferocious center but welcoming chorus. On the other hand, "Nothing Is Eternal" manages to capture this by utilizing sharp speed metal hooks that manage to sink into the soothing chorus. Other tunes may take the epic approach to a harder degree, like the eight-minute festival that is "The Otherworldly Sin", and one can pick up what I’d call “heavy-AOR” licks in the title track.

Really, Hextar are incredible at grabbing styles we’re all familiar with and working in adjacent accents to enhance the experience. There were plenty of areas for awkwardness to ensue, or for things to turn out far too corny, but the Italians dodged that at every corner. As I said, it’s a familiar style and isn’t going to break new ground, but doing what’s comfortable interestingly will almost always yield a pleasant result. If the likes of Queensryche, Ambush, or Konquest are friends of yours, add this to your listening scope.

Originally written for Metalegion Magazine