Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Hexen - State of Insurgency (2008)

Melodic thrash metallers Hexen are one of metal's unsung heroes in my book.  Their ability to deliver interesting, accessible, intricate and yet still inherently beastly thrash metal is unrivalled and it is sad that their recorded output is limited to just two full-lengths.  Hailing from L.A. the band occupied a space in the world of thrash metal that was shared with the likes of Coroner, Heathen and Vektor.  I would argue that the levels of technical wizardry on display in Hexen is not as heavy on the detail as with either Vektor or even Coroner and sharing a similar timeline in terms of forming and releasing demos as Vektor (both formed within a year of each other), Hexen have a unique sound all of their own that draws on the more traditional elements of thrash, allowing for progressive elements to compliment as opposed to rule the trajectory.

The debut release from Hexen is a solid affair, stacked with energy and ability in equal amounts.  Unafraid to explore the full extent of their skills the band drop in a couple of instrumental tracks along the way that prove to be no distraction to the rest of the album.  With a clear focus on society and politics evident in their lyrics and song titles, Hexen plot an intense yet well-measured path across the thirteen tracks on show.  Repka's trademark artwork adorns the album cover and is a perfect summary of what State of Insurgency aims to share with the audience.

Vocally, I found the album initially to be a challenge; most certainly when compared with the more polished instrumental performances of the guitars.  Andre Hartoonian has a narrative style to his vocals that avoids singing being used for the main.  It is not a rap style by any means, but there is similarity in methodology at times in how the vocals drop and stumble over the music as opposed to feel immediately a part of proceedings.  Initially the guitars provided suitable distraction to encourage me to press ahead with the record which was a good decision as I now recognise how well the vocals work in that almost juxtaposed position in the band's sound.  Ronny Dorian and James Lopez are superb on guitars, their melodic leads and technical prowess easily fit into the record as opposed to flooding it and overwhelming the whole piece.  Album highlight Knee Deep in the Dead shows perfectly the riffing capacity of the band; backed by a thunderous percussion section with Warbringer's Carlos Cruz delivering a capable performance as Hartoonian's bass rumbles along under the wav of the higher sounds in the mix brilliantly.  

Another band that I have discovered as I expand my range of knowledge in The PIt, Hexen have been one of my best finds to date and one I would recommend any thrash metal fan checks out.