HEXX — Morbid Reality (review)

Album · 1991 · Death Metal

4/5 · 2015-10-02
UMUR

"Morbid Reality" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US, San Francisco, California based death metal act Hexx. The album was released through Century Media Records in November 1991. Hexx existed from 1983 to 1995 and released three full-length studio albums in that period. They developed their sound greatly over the years, starting out playing power/thrash/heavy metal and ending in death/thrash metal territory.

The 5 years between "Under the Spell (1986)" and "Morbid Reality" have been spend working on changing the band´s original power/heavy metal style to a technical death/thrash metal style, but the change didn´t occur overnight. Hexx released the two EPs "Quest for Sanity (1988)" and "Watery Graves (1990)" to bridge the gap between the two full-length studio albums, but also to prepare the band´s listeners for their new death/thrash metal sound. Both EPs feature a raw and aggressive thrash metal sound that with occasional nods toward death metal. Since "Under the Spell (1986)" there have been a couple of lineup changes as guitarist Clint Bower has taken over the vocal duties in addition to playing guitars. He replaces lead vocalist Dan Bryant. Drummer Dave Schmidt has also jumped ship and has been replaced by John Shafer. The new lineup also recorded the two preceeding EPs.

Stylistically "Morbid Reality" is not a pure death- or thrash metal album but more a hybrid technical death/thrash metal type release. Albums like "Piece of Time (1989)" by Atheist and "Syzygial Miscreancy (1990)" by Hellwitch are valid references, but an act like Sadus also comes to mind several times during the playing time. The playing is fast, technical, and raw, and the compositions are relatively adventurous even though catchy riffing and fierce aggression are always in the high seat. The 40:30 minutes long album features 8 tracks. Only 7 out of the 8 tracks are new compositions though as the title track from the "Watery Graves (1990)" EP has been re-recorded and included on "Morbid Reality". A good choice actually as the re-recorded and more death metal tinged version is one of catchy highlights of the album.

Compositionally the album is relatively diverse and in addition to the more "regular" death/thrash metal tracks, Hexx manage to make a few excursions into other territories. A piano intro, a couple of traditional heavy metal parts, and the instrumental stoner metal tinged closing track "Spider Jam", are some of the elements that are a bit "off" on "Morbid Reality". It shows a band with the guts to experiment and that´s always praise worthy even though I´m not entirely sure if I think those elements are good for the overall flow and consistency of the album.

The sound production is raw and powerful. A sound that suits the equally raw and powerful music well. So there are many positive things to say about "Morbid Reality", and it´s definitely too bad Hexx didn´t get a chance to follow it up with a successor in their initial run. It´s not a flawless release by any means, but there´s something undeniably charming about the rawness and boldness of it all and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.