Following on from their recent successes with their EP "Bestiarum Vocabulum", Florida Death Metallers HEXORCIST have returned with their debut album "Evil Reaping Death". The 10 track record offering up intense and aggressive riffs in the name of Death Metal. The artwork is seemingly portraying something pertaining towards the horsemen of the apocalypse.

Opening the record is "Exulting The Adversary" introducing the album with ominous ocrhaestral brass notes before an amazing guitar run that really blew me away, I simply was not ready for that! And that's not where it ends, in amongst the deep growls and breathless riffage is more articulated guitar runs that just accents the music throughout. So far, I'm seeing this as a very traditional Death Metal and it's hitting all the notes. As "Sentry At The Seven Gates" and "Unblessing The Reverent" flow through my speakers I am struck by how hard hitting, yet still smooth and delectable the tracking is. To this point, the only thing that is letting down the record, for me, is the mixing, it just seems slightly off and for that is detracting from the music.

The titular, "Evil Reaping Death" starts with so much promise, a hook to grab your attention that the entire track is then built on. As the aggressive vocals hammer through and the untiring drums continue to pound away. I can see the crowd to this track, full of energy and electricity with pits open left right and centre, it would be an amazing sight to see live, I am sure. "Unrighteous Ceremony" certainly begins with the atmosphere of a ritual or ceremony and it continues throughout, I'm not too sure what the imagery conjures up within my minds eye, but its almost something reminisce of a dark forest with some sort of pagan ritual ongoing, and to me sometimes, the music is about more than what you hear, it can be what it makes you feel or in this instance what imagery it produces.

Moving to the final two tracks, "Praising The Most Foul" rounds off the album by combining everything that has come before in a final breathless flurry of the purest Death Metal and it is utterly delectable. "Crucifixion (Devastator Cover)" is a fast and furious way to see out the record, and it is a fantastic homage to the now split up Blackened Thrash outfit.

Overall, this is a solid album. I have really enjoyed the album, musically it's really impressive traditional Death Metal and some of the sweeping guitar runs are just exquisite. As I alluded to earlier, what served as a black mark to the record was the quality of recording and mixing, however whether or not this was a desired effect is not known to me. But for a debut release all involved should be commended for such a strong showing.