If there is a style of Metal that is over-stuffed with average bands that follow an increasingly predictable recipe, it's Death Metal. Vocals that are growled and gargled, fast paced Thrash infused guitar riffs, thundering bass, rapid drums and evil lyrics; and HEXHORN fall well and truly in the middle of all these tropes.

While their debut album, "Waking of Death" may hold tightly to the stereotypes of its genre with a white-knuckled death grip, the record is most definitely a solid release. These 9 songs are hard-hitting and brutal, with some ferocious riffs and tasty lead work. The stock-in-trade subject matters all follow a very tried and tested pattern, however, they do manage to capture a lot of energy and aggression, which is accentuated by the tightness of the playing, thus creating a solid, unified sound.

Even though pretty much every single Death Metal song ever written deals with death, disease, destruction and pain (nothing different here), HEXHORN have added Brain-Eating Amoeba to that list with the song "Naegleria Fowleri" (the Latin name for it), suggesting a slightly deeper potential with the way in which this group researches their bloodthirsty song material.

Across the nine tracks, there is absolutely no let up. From the opening thunder of "Suffering", to the powerful end of "Hate Makes us Stronger", HEXHORN have the listener by the throat with absolutely no clemency in power or speed. No single track stands out as a highlight, but everything is on a very level plane. However, this lack of difference in track speed, length or sound makes it a fairly dull listen for anybody looking for interesting album with changes in time and tempo, so those people should look elsewhere. Yet if you're looking for a pure, unadulterated high speed Death Metal album from a young group that can only go upward, HEXHORN is as good a place as any to start.