Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Hemotoxin - When Time Becomes Loss (2024)

Progressive/technical thrash/death metal is something I'm up to exploring more of, but I'm still heavily focused on the genres for my main clans. One of my latest attempts was when I checked out Sadist's 1993 debut album Above the Light. Interestingly, this Hemotoxin album doesn't stand out to me as much as that Sadist album. Perhaps one reason is because it sounds to me more like the tech-death/thrash of Revocation with only some progressiveness here and there...

When Time Becomes Loss is the 4th album from this band from Pittsburg (California, not Pennsylvania). Guitarist/vocalist Michael Chavez has pulled off some deathly riffing and thrashy harmonies with technical firepower. His vocals are pretty cool too.

"Morbid Reflection" opens the album smoothly though the production is a bit muddy. Nonetheless, you can hear the energy coming from the guitar and bass. The tech-death/thrash sound definitely sounds like if Revocation time-traveled to the era of Atheist's debut Piece of Time. "Call from the Abyss" kick the drums and guitars up some notches. This is fast wall-smashing metal! "Malediction" burns you to the ground then resurrects you like a phoenix. The speedy machinery slows down in some sections.

"Abstract Commands" blazes through once again with its firmly heavy fast sound. "Conscious Descent" finally has the progressive variety I was anticipating, starting with clean acoustic melancholy before descending into Vektor-ish chaos. The bass sounds the most audible here.

"Reborn in Tragedy" returns to the tech-death/thrash sound, practically rebirthing a genre that faded out long ago. It's actually more progressive than most of the other tracks here, but again, technicality and aggression continue to reign. The title closer unleashes the last of the technical firepower in this album. And you're left wondering if there will ever be more of that sound in the future.

I think it's clear Hemotoxin has the strength to crash through the gates and show no mercy. They have true tight talent and are good at their blend of old-school and modern. All I'm asking for is clearer production for a new album and giving their sound a little more progressiveness to go a long way....

Favorites: "Call from the Abyss", "Conscious Descent", "Reborn in Tragedy"