If you still want Death Metal to sound evil, chaotic and like it was unearthed from the past, Hexorcist may be the breath of fresh air you were looking for. This album oozes black magic, immediately evoking memories from the late 80s and the early 90s. The songs are all over the place, with chaotic riffs and dive bombs coming at you from all angles and solos thrown in everywhere.
Hexorcist managed to produce a sound that cuts while also avoiding turning into an unlistenable slopfest. It’s raw and heavy, but not difficult to figure out where each element is while Gene Palubicki gives the album an even more old school vibe with his thrashy, demonic shouts. Definitely can feel that Possessed, Morbid Angel and Sadistic Intent energy in the room with me due to the unhinged riffing and the truly “evil without trying to be” sound of the whole thing. The only issue that really arose was the overuse of guitar solos. Hexorcist III can shred on a guitar for all its worth but some solos came seemingly at random and when there were a multitude, it began to be a bit overwhelming.
Still that would be down to my personal preference more than anything.
Overall I would sum up ‘Crucificial Imprecations’ as someone literally digging up a long lost Death Metal album from some decades ago, dropping it into the year 2026 and saying ‘here it is, get used to it.’ It’s fast, it’s evil, and it loves to be that way, which is the primary reason this album really works.
