Polish black thrash is just what you need to blow away your New Year hangovers. Released last year, it’s just got to us to review in the New Year. This is an EP with 4 tracks, although there are a further six live tracks on the CD version (Live from Evil Madness II, Lodz recorded 30th April last year). Two of the live tracks come from their debut EP called ‘Tormented Possession’. It is worth noting that this EP’s 4 official tracks also appear as a split release from last year with Warfare Noise, Bastard Christ in cassette format.

‘Altar of the Witches’ is a furious dark decent into hell. Typical of the genre, time keeping is precise, guitar sound is gnarly and powerful, and the vocals are spouted from the mouth of hell almighty with ease, consistency and guile. This reminds me of the many South American bands playing this style.

‘Desecration’ has a more earthy death metal undertone, the guitars stand out lower end, and the vocals go a touch more guttural. The tempo changes are seamless, the power is certainly of a higher order than the former track.

‘Mortuary Sacrifice’ feels more Venom like in the guitars, the tempo is a bit faster, back to South America I reckon. This and the first track have the power, but for me the speedier numbers lose the power and are not as hard hitting as the more earthy ‘Desecration’. That said, ‘Mortuary Sacrifice’ has some more paced changes and some variation, something at odds with the remainder of the EP which is head down go for the throat.

Of the live tracks, ‘Torture of Death’ stands out for me along with the EP track repeated in the form of ‘Altar of the Witches’.  This is a low fi, but brutal version in the live recordings with a good drum sound. This is a real gem, especially when you normally associate this style with poor live sound. This is not the case here. The live tracks roll into one another, a real bonus for this CD version.

Overall, Hexenaltar are exactly what you would expect, their logo is one that I really like a lot. Presentation overall is nailed down, the style varies from usual continent to continent influence, but it is no sloth, its energy personified and a true awakening of hades.

(7.5/10 Paul Maddison)

https://www.facebook.com/Hexenaltar

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/bestial-damnation