HYPOXIA
HYPOXIA “Defiance”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Time to raise some hell old school style. HYPOXIA is a new name to me, but they’ve actually been around more than 10 years and “Defiance” is album #3. This is yet another instance of a band doing absolutely nothing new, but doing it so well, you don’t mind. In this case, what they do is Florida style death metal reeking of the early 90’s.
Some of them were around back then, too. I see the bass player is Mike Poggione, who spent many years with MONSTROSITY...he’s been around the block. The gut-wrenching roars are courtesy of Mike Hrubovcak, also of MONSTROSITY as well as VILE. Other members hail from acts such as RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER (wow, haven’t heard that name in a while) and CASTRATOR. So this ain’t a bunch of kids deciding to play death metal because it’s “hot”...it’s in their blood.
It’s speedy, well-produced destruction with the charm of a rusty chainsaw. Tracks like “Black Omens”, “Drowning In Darkness” and “Scorched and Skinned” eschew the usual Swe-death and INCANTATION overtones and dive into MORBID ANGEL, NILE and, of course, MONSTROSITY style mayhem. I don’t know if HYPOXIA deliver the memorability of a truly great death metal band, but they know how to kick your head in and sometimes that’s all you need.