Techno Mage - Hexproof

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Review

Techno Mage’s Hexproof takes us on a terrifying, intimidating auditory adventure through a hellish techno-dystopia combining relentless power and seething darkness. This is a musical onslaught in the best way possible as it mingles raging guitars, chip tune sounds and unstoppable percussion. When one adds in a roster of musical guests, each bringing a unique talent, the resulting album is deeply pleasing.

I enjoy the way in which Hexproof weaves together musical elements to create an atmosphere rife with terror and technological oppression. The guitar has palpable weight and slashing edges while chip tune sounds create a sense of retro-future technology and the drums and bass add feelings of oppression and looming shadow. I find myself transported by the music, painting twisted images in my mind.

Hexproof benefits from a range of musical contributors who each bring their own twist to the album’s tracks. Their talent adds to the depth of the music and gives it fresh flavour. I believe that there’s huge ability within in the community surrounding synth-based music and this album goes some way to supporting that belief.

The way in which the album balances various timbres, sonic textures and tonal elements adds layered complexity to the music. There is, of course, tremendous power and rage but there’s also richness, contrast and emotional depth here. I am enamoured of how these elements form a compelling whole as the album unfolds.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Ghost” comes to life as darkly seething bass tumbles below a taut note that extends in a long flow. Trembling, nervous notes add a keyed up feeling as rounded, ethereal synth glides out. Vicious drums are joined by rampaging guitar that fades as threatening bass mingles with tripping chip notes.

Intimidating, shadowy synth rises as tense arpeggios spin. The drums are a crushing weight as surging guitar forms a fulminating tide. There’s superb contrast as the track slips into a delicate glissade as chimes sparkle. Haunting synth cries out in a lost pattern as the drums, guitar and chip sound fades.

Reverent choral voices move with harsh sounds and rising chords effectively embody nobility to start “Ironsight.” Gigantic drums and lacerating guitar are joined by Shubzilla’s sharp-edged vocals as wet sounds move.

Colossal guitars and attacking drums support Shubzilla’s intense, active vocal delivery as the guitar forms an interwoven wall. Razor-edged bass and aggressive drums charge in as Shubzilla chants.

Guitar dances in angular motion, slicing in as the rushing low end forces itself forward. The lead singer calls out as the pumping drums are given muscled life by leaping guitar. Wobbling notes sway and more worshipful feeling flows from choral voices before crunching anger fills the guitar as drums pummel.

The narrator appraises a new recruit for their cause, “just a greenhorn that I gotta lead along.” She says they’ll have to pay their dues because “ones like you been here before” and there will be more like them. She adds that names aren’t important and “you’d better learn fast.”

Our storyteller asks what this recruit brings with them and concludes that they’re “nobody different, just the same old thing.” She adds that it isn't hard to see by the way they fight, running on fumes all the time. She says that the recruit isn’t "bright, new or innovative" but it's better than their not participating. All she wants to know is if they’re ready.

Now the narrator asks what the other person is waiting for. They need to “get your foot out that door” and stop showing insolence. She wants to know that they have it right. She tells them to “shut up and give me more” without arrogance. She points out that “I’ve got you in my sight.”

“Spare me the talk, we takin’ action" is what the storyteller says to the recruit. She wants them to team up and "make some traction." Their work is done and she asks the other person if they're ready go. The people that they're challenging are now going to "reap what they dared to sow.”

The narrator adds that people shouldn't think that because they're not that big, they can't make waves. She goes on to point out that “we ‘bout to bust this gig" and put them all in their graves. There's no need to know where the other person comes from and the "stacks of bodies got me numb.” She wants to catch the flow and tell everyone what’s up.

This tales’ teller asks what the recruiters waiting for and tell them to shut up because "it's time to sore" and kick in the initiative while they wait until the fight wade into the fight. She goes on to tell them to "shoot the core, avenge the fallen (with) redemption into the night.”

Our narrator talks about doing what’s necessary to “get that dub.” She asks if someone like the recruit can measure up, adding “don’t front, you ain’t tough.” She tells the other person to take a chance because the struggle is bigger than them.

Her question for the song’s subject is “What are you waiting for?” She tells them to quit talking and focus so they can “reveal the fraudulence, bring it into the light.” There’s no scorekeeper so the recruit has to give their all and fight hard.

Now the storyteller says that if the recruit is dreaming of a time after war, there’s no room to hesitate and there’s “history to rewrite.” She tells the other person that they need to “calculate what’s in store” since they have to be underway.

“Precognition” commences with trickling chip sounds as soaring and heart-lifting notes call out above the roaring low end. The main melody vaults forward as smashing drums and tidal bass surge drive.

Chippy notes trace through and the drums strike with massive force as the guitar lashes out. Choral voices join the digital-sounding melody with its adventurous feeling. The guitar adds a blues-y riff and the low end rushes massively as the guitar bellows.

The low end embodies titanic force while the chip melody climbs, adding an excellent sense of uplift and inspiration. Guitar calls out and the drums and bass rush hard along with the choir as the track ends.

Intensely biting guitar lacerates in bursts that rock the track with fearsome power to open “Bleeding Edge. “ Spectral synth cries out with a ghostly feeling above the roiling guitar and bass mass that looms through the music. The guitar that erupts with seething strength as chip synth leaps up.

I am drawn to the guitar solo which unfolds with nobility and intricacy as the tide below it heaves. The guitar assault is massive while wide sounding synth drifts out in long lines, sounding lost. The low end moves with tectonic force and rushing, enraged guitar surges. Digital sounding synth flies free and the guitar sings with arcing triumph before the track ends.

“Self Diagnosis” kicks off as bass, like the vast darkness of outer space, wells up. Choral voices chant with ominous emotion as a heavy drum smashes in broken lines.

Now guitar churns with crushing strength as the drums impact with deadly force. The choir’s voices ring out with shadowed emotion as the guitar wall adds with energy and intimidation.

There is a well-expressed hellish quality as in the angular guitar that tears in with razor fangs. The choir cries out in a possessed howl as string-like notes also surge and the guitar leaps out with lacerating power before the track ends.

Twinkling chimes flit as colossal drums smack and rattling cymbals hiss to start “Silver Tongue.” A towering mass of roiling shadow pours in and high synth cries out before a chugging bass pulse joins an orchestral sweep that adds a superb dramatic intensity.

Brassy notes flash out and rippling, resonant arpeggios spin as bass growls and a guitar maelstrom makes a ravening attack. Full-sounding arpeggios ramp up tension and motion above the low end. Taut high notes float out with a lost feeling while the drum and bass storm breaks with staggering force over the track as it draws to an end.

“GodMode” begins as pulsating bass moves below medium high, glistening synth flowing in a mysteriously glowing pattern. Skipping synth wriggles as broad drums burst and threatening bass slips past.

A guitar shreds in with ferocious power as the gleaming synth flickers out. 8-bit notes flare while the guitar charges on and reverberant synth sings a surprisingly tender melody that I enjoy. Jagged guitar shards drive in a raging tide and cymbals clash.

A digital-sounding melody sings out with soaring triumph above the terrible energy emanating from below as the drums collide. The chip melody carries nobility and intense motion as arpeggios twirl. The storm is unrelenting as the track finishes on a dark sonic flow.

Radiant string-like synth unwinds in lustrously dancing arpeggios to open “OmniVision .” Bass adds a dangerous feeling, rising in huge walls as airy sounds rush through with a choral sound and guitar adds seething power.

Giant drums smash hard and trembling synth moves in agitated lines. Heavy drums explode along with a choir screaming out to effectively add a sense of horrifying threat.

The guitar embodies unfettered darkness and the drums shatter. Nervously spinning arpeggios fade with pizzicato notes as the track closes.

Conclusion

Hexproof is an exhilarating, terrifying and colossal slab of power and darkness. It allows Dan Butler (Techno Mage) and his fellow creators an intense musical expression that explores a dystopian technological world that looms above us all in a possible future.