HEX A.D. – Netherworld Triumphant

Norwegian Doom Metallers Hex A.D.’s third album creates a modern day blend of Progressive and Doom Metal with a unique melodic edge using a 70s style organ.  The band states “A huge musical inspiration on “Netherworld Triumphant” are the albums that the biggest hardrock bands from the seventies released in the early eighties”.  

It’s hard to imagine a lead track more disassociated from the whole than “Himmelskare”. The amateur recording of a piano recital is so prolonged the listener is compelled to check the media player to verify the selection. It becomes completely irrelevant with the churning witching hour organ entrance of “Skeleton Key Skeleton Hand”.  This hook-filled song is what Uriah Heep would sound like after ingesting Death Metal steroids. The organ stylings are reminiscent of Deep Purple’s Jon Lord and the bludgeoning guitar tone reminds of you of 90s era Cathedral or Entombed.  “Netherworld Triumphant Pt. I” is a tapestry of blended Doom Metal elements.

After a mood setting bombast of teaser riffs, the band delivers a steady stream of soothing grind later broken with a lush bridge of clear tone guitar solo backed with acoustic guitar. “WarChild” successfully follows the template of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” but lacks a compelling vocal performance.  Part of the blame rests with the production which buries the vocals to unintelligibly. The final two songs span over 21 minutes and take a Prog meets Doom Metal approach at odds with earlier tracks. These songs come closest to resembling the bands early 80s Metal inspiration. The Iommiesque opening riff of “Ladders To Fire” is a highlight, but these songs run longer than necessary.

At times, the Doom Metal threads tying Netherworld Triumphant together get stretched thin leading to an uneven whole.  However, when the band locks into a solid Doom Metal groove the results are excellent.  Definitely a must for fans of Retro Doom Metal.

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TRACKLIST (Highlights: 2, 3, 5, 6)

1. Himmelskare
2. Skeleton Key Skeleton Hand
3. Netherworld Triumphant Pt. I
4. Netherworld Triumphant Pt. II
5. WarChild
6. Boars On Spears
7. Ladders To Fire

LINEUP

Rick Hagan: Vocal, Guitar
Mags Johansen: Organ, Mellotron, Keyboard
‘Arry Gogstad: Bass
Matt Hagan: Drums