From the scorching depths of Texas’ Deep South rises Hexella—a relentless black metal machine, forged in 2019 from the mind and raw energy of Noelia Garza. What began as a solo project has since evolved into a fully formed beast, driven by rage, tradition, and a deep disdain for modern polish. After a string of promising demos and a ferocious split with Wulfskol (released in 2023 on Goat Throne Records), the time has come: Hexella’s debut full-length is on its way, released through none other than Hells Headbangers—a label known for spewing forth nothing but fire and brimstone.
With this record, Hexella delivers a blistering tribute to the first wave of extreme metal, channeling the unholy trinity of Venom, Celtic Frost, and Hellhammer. Their influence isn’t just present—it’s omnipresent. This album reeks of 1980s basement rot. What you get are eleven short, furious tracks—stripped of ornamentation, a barrage of filthy riffs, pummeling rhythms, and possessed vocals that leave no room for pause or reflection. And that’s exactly the point.
The musical formula is simple yet devastatingly effective: trashy, amped-up riffs that hurl you back in time, d-beats that batter your eardrums, and a dark, growling bass engine that roars forward with the force of a diesel locomotive. Above it all rages Noelia Garza’s voice—hoarse, raw, and soaked in fury. Her vocals sound like an invocation—a demonic cry rising from the desert sands of the Lone Star State. This is music that doesn’t explain itself or ask permission. It just is—like lightning, or a snakebite.
One undeniable highlight is “Ophitic Revelation”—a track that comes so close to the essence of Morbid Tales-era Celtic Frost it feels like flipping through a forgotten rehearsal tape from 1984. That signature push and pull between crawling, incantatory doom riffs and sudden bursts of violence is executed with masterful simplicity. Elsewhere on the album, that unmistakable Swiss influence continues to echo—but never in a way that feels derivative. Hexella doesn’t mimic; it invokes.
What makes this debut truly stand out is its complete lack of pretense. No progressive flourishes, no artistic veil—just pure, honest, intensely physical music. The record feels like an artifact from another time, yet it lives and breathes with the urgency of now. Hexella channels the past without being trapped by it, delivering a sound that’s raw, vital, and bristling with intent.
For those who want their metal unfiltered, unpolished, and untouched by trend—Hexella is here for you. This debut is a punch to the face of anyone who thinks the genre has dulled. In my book, it’s a new beacon on the horizon of the American underground.
85/100
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