HeKz: Initio

It can be interesting to go back to early recordings of a band to discover the group’s progression. For fans of HeKz, Initio gives you a chance to do just that. They have released four full-length albums since 2012, their most recent being 2023’s Terra Nova, which I quite liked. Prior to that, though, they had four EPs, none of which I had heard and all of which are compiled on this double album along with a bonus track.

The first EP was self-titled and released in 2005. It is pretty standard, meat-and-potatoes metal. I can say much the same thing with the next two, Exodus and Another Time, though on the latter you can hear them trying to spread their wings and move into progressive territory. That move is more fully realized on the fourth of the bunch, Orfeo, which includes a few re-recorded tracks from the previous releases. The high point is the ten-minute “Don’t Turn Back.� It is well constructed with several parts flowing into each other nicely, some fairly sophisticated music, and almost operatic vocals.

There’s nothing on this album that knocked my socks off, unlike some of the tracks on Terra Nova and 2014’s Caerus, where I think they became a full-fledged progressive metal band. They sometimes got over their skis with their attempts to make epics and mini-epics on those albums, but the results were still impressive and the effort admirable.

If you haven’t checked out HeKz before, don’t start with Initio. It shows the band in its infancy, rather than its mature state. But if you like their more recent releases, you’ll probably find this a fascinating listen.

Track Listing
HeKz (2005)
1. Flight of the Harpies
2. Hall of Mirrors
3. Sword of Damocles
4. Terminator

Exodus (2006)
5. When Darkness Falls
6. Dead of Night
7. Flight of the Harpies
8. Exodus

Another Time (2007)
9. Another Time
10. Sword of Damocles
11. Where the Brave Dare Not Go
12. The Silver Touch
13. Terminator

Orfeo (2009)
14. Intro
15. When Darkness Falls
16. Breakout
17. Dead of Night
18. Don't Turn Back
19. Footsteps on the Roof

Bonus Track
20. Burn

Added: November 16th 2024
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 102
Language: english

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