Carrying a definite feel that here is a band that could make a deep mark on metal in the future the debut EP from US blackened death metallers Nexhymn offers up six venomous slices of brutality to leave one satisfied and interested in hearing much more. Without taking the genre into parts unknown Black Horizon lays down a firm statement of a band on the rise with accomplished skill and invention and definite promise for the future.
From Colorado the band began in 2010, rising out from the ashes of Throcult. With a name derived from the combining of Latin word Nex and the word Hymn, their definitions of death, violent nature, slaughter, and simple song of praise respectively suit the music the band creates rather well. Their music is one that you cannot easily turn away from; its slight groove and grind elements adding an additive pull to the harsh and consumptive overall bulk of each track. As mentioned the release does not offer anything openly original but it compensates with fine craft and compulsive sounds.
Fronted by vocalist Holly Wedel, her delivery as impressively bestial and intrusive as heard anywhere, Nexhymn bring a passion and heart to their music which is evident. From the unavoidable intensity of Wedel, to the towering rhythms of Pete Gonzales who drives each song with a varied and strong control, the prowling bass riffs of Tyler Cantrell, and the striking guitar play of Rudy Hernandez and Ivan Alcala, the band is a tight and demanding presence in the ear which feeds off the senses like a permeating blackened fog. The music invades, expands into, and seeks every empty corner of the body to leave a sure vacuum once the release lays down its final note.
As the first track Decaying Monument strikes up its sounds of war one almost feels that is what they are being 
dragged into. The track is violent and destructive, it might not be the most brutal song heard to be honest but it is as intrusive and effective as most. Immediately one is aware of the skills of Gonzales, he is a major asset that leads and compliments the strong ability and play of the rest of the band. He holds it all tight and driven whilst the others can expand and flourish which they do more as the EP progresses and one feels in the time ahead as the sound evolves so will their individual presences.
Undetermined Supplication and Repacious Temptest continue the very pleasing start, the first with a persistent groove lined eagerness whilst the second simply lurches across the emotions with a punishing and deliberate vindictive malice. Added to the opener there is a thinking that this is good stuff and very well brought forth but show us something more, the real Nexhymn. Which they do impressively with the best songs on Black Horizon in the shape of the title track and Exquisite Plague.
Black Horizon, the song, shifts intermittently from rampage to stomping to a predatory stroll through its length and is as intense, imaginative, and infectious as you could wish. The guitars whip the senses up into an eager recipient of the rampant pummelling beats and corruptive riffs whilst treating them to reserved but clear melodic invention. The following Exquisite Plague is equally ravenous as it grinds deep within its host. Again like its predecessor it strides with a confidence and pit borne intent to bring submission before its feet and accomplishes it to give thought of what a quite remarkable band Nexhymn have the prospect to become.
Closing on the brief instrumental Death Emotion the EP is a very satisfying release which shows in Nexhymn a band that has yet to evolve its own distinct sound but is well on the way which the just mentioned duo of songs give strong evidence for. Black Horizon deserves an investigation and Nexhymn a close attention as they grow into what one suspects will be a formidable and striking band.
www.facebook.com/pages/Nexhymn/114334125249755
RingMaster 03/25/2012
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