You know, when I started writing for Metal Temple, the first several albums I reviewed before requesting a genre change made me think "what the hell is this?" but after getting some good albums since the genre change request was approved, those days of me thinking that are long gone...or so I thought but I'll explain why in a moment.

The album I am reviewing is "Batchelor Of Black Arts" by an American Heavy Metal band called HESSIAN and this is their first album. Formed a few years ago, this Metal quintet have been working on their debut album which was released only just recently. But the big question is, why does this make me think back to the days when I started reviewing poor albums?

There are so many things I could say but the main reason why I scored the first several albums I reviewed for the site so low is down to a number of things including poor songwriting, poor performance and poor production. Then again I was reviewing albums in the Doom and Thrash Metal categories with many more to name a few. This is classified as a Heavy Metal album but upon first listens, it doesn't sound like one.

It sounds more like a Classic Rock album that frankly should belong to an older period of time as it sounds like an old Rock/Metal album from I think the 70's or 80's. When I first listened to it, I was mildly impressed with the effort that went into making it because I could at least make out some aspects that weren't completely terrible.

Since the first listens, I've gone back to listening to it again to see if it deserves a second chance and it sort of does but it's not something I'd listen to on a day to day basis as there is so much about it that makes me go "what the hell is this?" as the production is very mediocre and very second rate. Vocal performance wise, it's not completely terrible but to be honest, I have heard better from other bands I have listened to when reviewing their albums for the site.

I can't think of anything else to say about this album so I'll quickly summarize it up by saying that this does sound a lot like the albums I first reviewed for Metal Temple and that it's not something that's really my cup of tea or something I'd listen to on a daily basis for the reasons I have explained in this review but in fairness I have reviewed worse.