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I did not quite know what to expect when I got this CD; on one hand, I had heard some rather negative remarks about Extinction’s Promo 2000, and on the other hand I had seen this being described as reminiscent of Abruptum’s demos.

Well, sure enough, after the first listen, I was of the opinion that The Black Hex was very much alike Abruptum. Almost too much. However, as I listened to the CD more, I discovered that there is much more to this than just simple Abruptum-worship; indeed, I would say that whilst there is an undeniable Abruptum-influence in the music, Extinction continue to build upon a foundation provided by the masters, with an own approach and atmosphere, not just trying to emulate Abruptum.

Musically, The Black Hex consists of cacophonous guitars, screaming and tormented vocals, percussions that sometimes sound half-coherent and sometimes completely cacophonous, as well as some eerie, haunting keyboards. Friends of projects such as Abruptum, Emit and Stalaggh will most likely feel at home immediately.

The atmospheres are ones of bleak despair, bottomless madness, of old crumbled ruins and invisible spirits whispering of eternal damnation (complemented by the well-designed pictures on the covers). The first of the two tracks is definitely more atmospheric and haunting, whereas the second track is more aggressive and primitive. Whereas I would describe the first track as eerie and disturbing, the second track is best described as a torture-session in a crumbled old room.

The only negative remark about The Black Hex is it’s short duration; 15 minutes isn’t simply enough for this kind of music… you only start to sink into the right state of mind before it ends. However, apart from that, I find The Black Hex to be a highly promising recording. It may not be a future classic, but a decent recording nonetheless. And, needless to say, I definitely look forward to future releases.