review: Hypnos -- veteran death metal from Czechia

Hypnos

The Blackcrow

Einheit Produktionen

October 30th, 2020

1. Vox Irae 01:04

2. The Blackcrow 04:13

3. Afterlife Disillusion 04:25

4. Dawn of their Halcyon Age 04:59

5. Plunged into Cacophony 04:40

6. Vae Victis 06:19

7. Culte de la Raison 05:33

8. Liquid Sands 05:11

9. In Grief 09:51

10. In Blood We Trust (2020) 02:28

48:43

The history of the band is as long as it is interesting. Hypnos began in 1999. In 2020 they have two EPs and six studio albums, including this new one. Hypnos features Bruno and Pegas from Krabathor, which must be one of the oldest names in extreme metal in Czechia, beginning as far back as 1984 under various names, during the times of Stalin-ism in Europe. Krabathor did several demos in the 1980s. It seems like they had lots of material in the 1980s, but had not been able to record it all, and then in 1988 they rec-orded demos that were as long as albums. The increased activity continued in 1991 with two more demos, and in 1992 they recorded their debut album. In the 1990s the albums kept on rolling down the line: after the 1992 debut, others followed in 1993, 1995, and 1998. The 1998 album was called Orthodox and at the time some U.S. death metal fans did buy and did hear that album, and some U.S. zines covered Krabathor a bit. It is possible that older fans in the U.S. may remember said album and Krabathor, and may have their copies of those old cds. It looks like around 1999 Bruno left Krabathor to form Hypnos, and nowadays it seems like both bands are active and that Bruno and Pegas from Hypnos are in Krabathor also.

Hypnos in 2020 is Bruno on bass/vocals and Pegas on drums (both since 1999); Vlasa on guitar (since 2010); and Canni on guitar (since 2014). Let's focus on the 2020 album. Let's make a broad generalization: Bruno and Pegas have lots of fast, brutal music in their résumés. However, since at least the 2017 album called The Whitecrow the band has stepped up their game in terms of finding ways to keep their death metal creative yet brutal. After the album introduction, there are five songs that keep things rather fast and heavy, more or less, with a good sound (the bass guitar is very audible), a certain level of quality that comes from long experience, with good riffs, and strong vocals, and songs to get the blood pumping.

On the other hand, we could say that there is a second part to the album. That would be the following tracks: 7.Culte de la Raison (05:33); 8.Liquid Sands (05:11); 9.In Grief (09:51). As you see from the running times, it’s a good, substantial portion. Here is a large territory for moments of midtempo segments. In those moments, the guitars work other tempos that are accessible while remaining heavy. It’s tempting to say that this is the best part of the album, but of course that’s totally subjective. Without turning the Hypnos sound into “doom” nor “melodeath,” the music, while sounding like Hypnos death metal, brings in a measured sense of good, dry (not clichéd nor sugary) melody and headbobbing moments. The vocals remain harsh and heavy, and guitar tone is Hypnos death, and it is an interesting, different side of the album. This portion of the al-bum needs more careful listening to absorb what’s happening and to adjust to the bluesy melodies found within.

It is possible that Hypnos has some trepidation about this particular side of their music, perhaps fearing that death metal fans might react negatively because it is not all-out speed, raging extremity. That’s probably why the album ends with a new version of the 2000 song "In Blood We Trust," as if to apologize to the fans with a fast, brutal track. Ac-tually, no apology is necessary! The more thoughtful fans that understand quality death metal from this veteran band should be pleasantly surprised with how well the slower songs flow, and how Hypnos continues to push themselves to perfect their death metal.

HYPNOS "THE BLACKCROW" (official video 2020)

HYPNOS “PLUNGED INTO CACOPHONY / PROCESSION TO BABYLON” (official lyric video 2020)

https://www.einheit-produktionen.de/

https://www.facebook.com/HypnosCZ