Younger acts must deal with tremendous difficulties today, especially the lack of care of the fans for new bands. Yes, this is the reason that older acts that aren’t saying nothing more to anyone to be active, and younger ones that can carry the torch of Metal music into the future harder that its needed. It’s not a sin to say that a band that is important to you isn’t releasing good albums anymore (as an example, in my personal opinion, IRON MAIDEN should end activities, because since Bruce’s return, the band lost its need to prove itself, and it’s the responsible name for bringing me into Metal back in the 80s, but again: it’s a personal opinion). Sometimes, you need some refreshing as offered by the Italina quartet HEXTAR with “Doomsayer”, its first full-length.

As usual for younger acts, the sonority isn’t perfect. Lorenzo Telve did a very good work on the mixing and mastering, but there’s two weak points to name: it sounds a bit ‘digital’ in some moments, and with sone tunes on the drums sounding fuzzy. Taking that out, it sounds defined and heavy as their music needs. It’s not a loss of time, but my words means that their music demands something better. And the artwork of Simone Faggian reflects their need for something simple. Working on a way that combines Power Metal (influenced by German acts of the 80s, especially HELLOWEEN on its era between “Walls of Jericho” and “Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I”, and GRAVE DIGGER) with NWOBHM traits (even some Hard Rock and Progressive Rock touches can be heard here and there), the quartet shows personality, evading established models and trying a more personal expression. Of course things can improve in the future (they have potential and talent enough for such thing), but they’re on the right path.

“Nothing is Eternal” is a fine track, depicting a more traditional Heavy/Power Metal way, with faster tempos and excellent guitar riffs and duets; the long “The Otherwordly Sin” is full of rhythmic shifts and charming melodies inherited from NWOBHM, and what a good work on bass guitar and drums, and the same can be heard on “Hour of Glory” (what lovely melodies), and heavier are “Crestfallen Hunter’s Tale” and “The Fight Beyond the Sleep”, with both depicting influences inherited from JUDAS PRIEST and the US Metal School. The instrumental song “A Requiem for Fools” works as an intro for “Doomsayer”, a heavier song with excellent melodic hooks, and “The Story so Far” is faster and melodic again, with sharp guitars and excellent vocals, but with bits of pulsing aggressiveness. Again: these songs depict a promising new name that just need experience to become great.

“Doomsayer” works as a very good first coming for HEXTAR, but a tip for the band: it’s better find a bassist to leave Emiliano free to focus his attention on the vocals. He has a very good voice to be explored in the future.