After this album review was assigned to me and I couldn’t find anything from my usual internet and social media search, other than that HYLOXALUS are from Edmonton, Alberta and they have a Facebook page, so I finally reached out to the band direct and they provided me with the following brief bio on their start and the origin of the unique band name: “Started in 2017 by me, Mike Bell on guitars, based off some old demos I had. Nina Laderoute our vocalist joined that same year. Danial Devost our drummer who also mixes all our stuff joined 2018. In 2019, we released our self-titled debut EP, and then in 2021 our debut EP “Aposematic”. These two EPs were more based in early 2000's power metal (kinda like old STRATOVARIUS meets old NIGHTWISH). This new album, we changed the sound a bit - basically it's NIGHTWISH vocals plus RUSH drums plus STRAPPING YOUNG LAD/FEAR FACTORY riffs. Though all the reviews we've gotten so far say it comes across like a thrashy version of THERION, so take your pick as to how you wanna describe us. HYLOXALUS is a genus of poison dart frog. We came on that name because initially we were just gonna call ourselves Poison Dart Frog. We figured "let's find another word for poison dart frog that sounds cooler."

I’m reviewing their debut full-length album titled “Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole” which was self-released on January 28, 2024 and seeing how symphonic industrial thrash metal is usually “not my thang” I promise I will go into this review with my usual open minded and unbiased approach.

The title is quite appropriate on “He Dies in the Swamp” because the sound is definitely something that has died in the swamp with the vocal screams that sound like an opera on speed. There is absolutely nothing on this opening song that makes me want to endeavor on, but my editors would not be happy with a one song review, so I reluctantly trudge on hoping for something that resembles a rock band. “Dream Chasm” moves forth with an insistent riffing pattern giving goth metal vibes and thickened, moody riffs overridden by the haunting vocals that provide a sinister and doom laden atmosphere as the low and slow tempo toils along with a calculated pace meant to haunt your dreams. The drumming is melodic and fits the niche of the rhythm. “Undead in Ward 6” is where you’ll wind up finding me after this album review is completed and I am committed. The weave of power, symphonic and melodic progressive metal are all fused together in this story portraying the fight for eternal life in escaping death and hammered into our skulls with a heavy dose of synths as the vocals create a possessed choir effect. “Severed from the Reborn Sun” opens slow….real slow before the light guitar enters with flashes of pounding bass and crashing drums as the fast paced vocals take over with all elements synchronizing together creating a massage barrage of a paralyzing, unorthodox sound scope. “Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole” is a hodgepodge of some crazy ass sounds and unnatural monstrosity of blackened gothic noise, pummeling beats, and hoarse whiplash vocals. Brought to you with compliments from HYLOXALUS.