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Under the Spell (1986)
Hexx is a strange band that went through several phases during their existence. They began as more of a heavy metal band and though I like a good deal of traditional metal from the '80s, No Escape never did much for me. Later on in their career, they shifted toward death/thrash and then went on to make some of the most boring and mundane death metal ever, on 1991's Morbid Reality. It felt like these guys just couldn't find their identity and were very inconsistent.
With that in mind the second full-length from Hexx, Under the Spell, is kind of an anomaly. Released in 1986, this album features more of a speed/thrash style. Everything about this just kills their first L.P. From the songwriting to the execution of the material and the vocals, this is better in every conceivable way. The production is still on the rough side, almost sounding like a fifth-generation cassette dub. That said, it works for the material to have this rougher edge as opposed to sounding like the first Crimson Glory record, for example.
Right from the opener, "Hell Riders", Hexx shows the kind of energy and intensity that was lacking from anything that they did before or after this. Most of the tracks are on the shorter side, with only one exceeding four minutes, but these tunes hardly need much time to work themselves into your brain. The riffs and vocals are very memorable and it's remarkable how epic some of the songs feel, despite their brief length. "Edge of Death". "The Victim" and "Midnight Sun" are guaranteed to stick in your head.
Under the Spell is a great album that is dripping with '80s feeling. Hexx missed the mark with every other release but this was the one time where everything came together perfectly for the creation of something special. Call it heavy, thrash, power or speed metal, this is a killer album that deserves your attention.
With that in mind the second full-length from Hexx, Under the Spell, is kind of an anomaly. Released in 1986, this album features more of a speed/thrash style. Everything about this just kills their first L.P. From the songwriting to the execution of the material and the vocals, this is better in every conceivable way. The production is still on the rough side, almost sounding like a fifth-generation cassette dub. That said, it works for the material to have this rougher edge as opposed to sounding like the first Crimson Glory record, for example.
Right from the opener, "Hell Riders", Hexx shows the kind of energy and intensity that was lacking from anything that they did before or after this. Most of the tracks are on the shorter side, with only one exceeding four minutes, but these tunes hardly need much time to work themselves into your brain. The riffs and vocals are very memorable and it's remarkable how epic some of the songs feel, despite their brief length. "Edge of Death". "The Victim" and "Midnight Sun" are guaranteed to stick in your head.
Under the Spell is a great album that is dripping with '80s feeling. Hexx missed the mark with every other release but this was the one time where everything came together perfectly for the creation of something special. Call it heavy, thrash, power or speed metal, this is a killer album that deserves your attention.
(24 Apr. 2025)
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