Tando Ashanti is the second release from Denmarks’ Hexis. Hexis who mercilessly combine Black Metal with Hardcore into a socially unacceptable package of hellish noise. Wracking up intensity with each passing bar this album could very well be the epitome of brutal.
However without any pronounced melodies this hybrid of aggressive styles sounds more like a new version of rhythm and, well not blues, black and blues? This is mainly due to the volume of the bass that will hit you so hard you’ll wake up yesterday wondering where your pants are (play it loud enough and you’ll find them in the washing basket soon enough.)
The kinetic power coming from this album is a diabolical noise with more semblance to black metal. Black metal on a high protein diet with added bass. Where the resonant bass frequencies distort and suffocate the main collection of riffs. These riffs have gills however, swimming in a sea of discordance. As such this album builds pressure rather than tension and the lower frequencies erupt with blast beats like a submerged volcano.
With greater emphasis on using the kick track to carry the sound in waves of tremolo-like attack there are points where the songs feel as if they are hidden beneath an overwhelming contribution of bass frequencies. With its undoubtedly brutal sound, if it was primordial soup, it needs just a hint of salt to give its stewing chords some flavour.
7/10
