Italian band Hextar is here with their debut album, which has been given the bold title “Doomsayer.” It must be said that both the band name and the album title sound much tougher than the music the band represents. This is actually quite melodic heavy metal with traces of power metal. Here, one can draw comparisons ranging from Dio to Blind Guardian to Rainbow. The band plays well and has many good instrumental parts. But it stops there; unlike the mentioned artists, Hextar doesn’t have a very good vocalist and neither the best songs. But it’s not bad either. Vocalist Emiliano Zinà, who also handles the bass, does a decent job as a singer. But I struggle to find the good songs. “Doomsayer” thus ends up a bit mediocre. Additionally, I would have liked the band to have more punch in the sound. It sounds a bit too gentle, and there’s not enough weight in the guitars. It also doesn’t help that the synthesizer they use has some very sweet parts. A little angelic singing in the background doesn’t exactly toughen it up.
Release May 24th, 2024 on Dying Victims Productions.
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