Album: Hexed
Artist: Children of Bodom
Genre: #Metal
Sub-Genres: #Melodic #DeathMetal, #PowerMetal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Non-Airable Tracks: n/a
Release Date: March 8th, 2019
Description:
Coming off the recent singles leading up to this album, Hexed has no surprises but delivers on the quality set forth on the lead single “This Road”. In fact, most songs on the album could have been the accompanying B-side and it would have worked well because of the consistency here. Of course, that consistency works both ways because, as each song accomplishes a pleasing melodeath sound, there are hardly any moments which accomplish anything besides that. “Hecate’s Nightmare” is the notable track here with the Helloween-like guitar and keyboard riffs and epic solo near the end which sets it apart from the other tracks. “This Road” is the other highlight here (which I already reviewed). Outside of these two, there was nothing on the album that had me feeling like I was spending my time well having already heard the two singles here; it just all follows the same formula of melodic power metal at variable quality levels.
As far as late career albums are concerned, music, especially melodeath, won’t be much better than this – this is a good album after all. It can hardly be a bad thing if all these songs sound like “This Road” but it can also hardly be a great thing. Thus, this one is a good album awash in a sea of other good albums which probably won’t escape their scene. Fans of melodeath and fans of Children of Bodom rejoice: here is a good quality album. Hexed won’t be popping up on anyone else’s radar anytime soon however.
Sounds Like: Carcass
Recommended tracks for radio play: Hecate’s Nightmare
Reviewer: Bryan Burnett
Review Date: March 27th, 2019