HYLOXALUS — Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole (review)

HYLOXALUS — Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole album cover Album · 2024 · Symphonic Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
HYLOXALUS is a newer band from Edmonton, Canada which initially was aiming for a melodic death metal sound in its presentation but after discovering an operatic diva named Nina Laderoute, the duo of Mike Bell (guitar/bass/synth programming/lead songwriter) and Danial Devost (drums) hit upon a totally new style of symphonic power metal instead. This power trio released two EPS in 2019 and 2021 and at long last in 2024 releases its debut MAKE ME THE HEART OF THE BLACK HOLE.

A unique sounding album, MAKE ME THE HEART OF THE BLACK HOLE features 7 tracks at 35 minutes of playing time and showcases a unique mix of heavy thundering guitar riffs accompanied by spacey atmospheres and an ethereal almost Gothic clean soprano vocal style of Laderoute. Claimed by some a mix of Strapping Young Lad meeting Tristania, the music ranges from the stampeding energetic opener “He Dies In The Swamp” to more straight forward hard rockers like “Beyond The Soil” which deemphasize the power metal extremes and sound more like straight forward heavy metal at times therefore it seems the symphonic metal attributes are the common denominator.

The tracks are well constructed with instantly catchy hooks, strong musical support and strong vocal support from the operatic diva on board. The tracks differ from each other enough to stand on their own and the atmospheric symphonic touches are an integral part of the musical experience and not just a backdrop. The album is actually quite dramatic and sounds very much like a power metal band went to a night at the opera.

The lyrics are quite entertaining too as they narrate fictitious battles and cosmic commonalities. The dynamics of a thundering power metal background (most of the time) and a soft sensual atmospheric accompaniment with a clean vocal diva set outside the context of the metal universe makes the album sound original that’s for sure.

A really decent debut from HYLOXALUS however it doesn’t sound like the band ever quite achieves what they are going for and that is a larger than life musical experience that offers a great number of intermissions and musical styles. No, this is a collection of tracks that implies it wants to be a concept album or even a rock opera of some sort. Of course i can’t fault an album for NOT being something but it does sound like the dramatic achievements of the musical style deserve a more sophisticated format to match.

Perhaps that is in the future but for now all i have to say is that MAKE ME THE HEART OF THE BLACK HOLE certainly stands out from the never-ending flood of metal bands on the market and that is something alone to be proud of. I also like this album a lot too however i would refer to it more as a mix of Battle Beast and Dol Ammad. I guess my one major gripe with this album is Laderoute, as impressive as her vocals are, is a one trick pony with no variations. She needs to let loose and explore other styles more.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Pure Ecstasy Through Perforation Metalcore
DRAPED IN BLACK
Buy this album from MMA partners
Eternal Siege Sludge Metal
REGICIDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ashen Womb Death Metal
PHRENELITH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Whispers Of The Blade Metalcore
BATHED IN SIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Saranhedra Atmospheric Sludge Metal
CARIAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us