A totally new acquaintance to me, English ravagers Hellfekted are here with their new single cut. Formed in 2019, but already carrying an album under their bullet belts, are striking the iron while it is hot.

The 2020 debut album 'Woe to the Kingdom of Blood' is a putrescent slab of barbarian alloy of death/thrash/black, and even with its wrinkles (like overlong songs with unnecessary parts), a grabbing piece of hellish music. Now a 4-piece with second guitarist and new skins-basher, the band present song titled 'Death of Iron', from their forthcoming sophomore album.

Totally sturdy low frequencies and shrieking guitars on this one. It feels like Bolt Thrower alloyed with Slayer, even though Hellfekted's melodies are very different. The opening riff has a Mid-Eastern vibe to it, and there's slower bad-ass chunkiness, too. It has more of an ominous atmosphere generally, than attacking. The song-writing is rather simplistic, as the song kind of starts repeating in the middle; but at least there's old school thrashy guitar solo towards the end. The vocals are shouted with rough voice, accompanied with scream and muffled "megaphone" style voice.

It's a nifty song, for sure, if repeating. I hope the band have shorter ones piled for the new release, because as mentioned, many a song on their debut suffered from long duration. Chop 'em or add more variety works like magic sometimes.

Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/15/2022 17:53