DEATHOX - "Hallucinations"
Courtesy of The Metallist PR
Where Personal Demons Meet Thrash Metal Catharsis
In the increasingly sanitized landscape of modern thrash metal, Deathox's sophomore effort "Hallucinations" arrives as a raw, unflinching examination of mental health struggles filtered through old-school thrash sensibilities. Released on March 14th via Backup Studio Records, this 45-minute journey delves into the personal psychiatric experiences of band founder BeKy with an authenticity that's as uncomfortable as it is compelling.
What began as a private creative outlet for BeKy has evolved into a full-fledged band project following the unexpected success of their debut "Psycollective." For "Hallucinations," BeKy assembled a permanent lineup featuring vocalist Alex "Lexin" Framarin, lead guitarist Alessio "Spik" Micca, bassist Francesco "The GrooVster" Gallo, and drummer Cosimo "The Nola" De Nola. The result is a more cohesive yet equally intense exploration of trauma, psychiatric disorders, and the struggle for self-preservation.
From the opening moments of "Heavy Shadows," the band establishes their approach – melodic interludes that give way to crushing, Bay Area-inspired thrash riffage with a modern production edge. Framarin's vocals throughout the album maintain a coarse, abrasive quality that sometimes creates an intriguing tension against the more melodic instrumental backdrops. This juxtaposition is perhaps most effectively deployed on "Black Dust," where beautiful minor-key passages collide with his guttural delivery to evoke the dissonance of a fractured psyche.
The album maintains a relentless pace through cuts like "Hungry" and "Shut Your Mouth," which channel the militant precision of Exodus and Kreator with their tight guitar work and aggressive rhythms. These tracks provide the perfect vehicle for BeKy's exploration of childhood trauma and familial discord, respectively. The marching chug rhythms of "Screaming Whisper" effectively underscore the song's examination of religious hypocrisy, while "My Jail" captures the frenetic disorientation of post-institutionalization with its breakneck tempo.
Artwork by BeKy
The standout instrumental "Delusional Disorder" offers a rare moment of respite, with its Metallica-influenced melodic passages creating a contemplative space before a subtle southern-tinged guitar solo carries the track to its conclusion. This wordless composition perhaps best captures the ineffable nature of psychotic episodes that BeKy has experienced.
What elevates "Hallucinations" beyond typical thrash fare is its unflinching commitment to documenting BeKy's experiences within psychiatric institutions, his struggles with addiction and self-harm, and his contemplation of suicide. "Broken Life" is particularly harrowing, with its chorus screaming of a life in pieces while questioning whether to continue living. Similarly, "No One Talks To Me" uses oppressive, beat-down rhythms to convey the isolation and neglect within mental health systems more concerned with sedation than healing.
The album concludes with "Lifeless," beginning with haunting spoken words echoing from a void before erupting into classic thrash hammering and a screaming solo. It's an appropriate finale for an album that explores how psychiatric struggles create barriers in all aspects of life, leaving one feeling disconnected and armored against genuine connection.
"Hallucinations" isn't a comfortable listening experience, nor is it meant to be. BeKy has transformed deeply personal trauma into a thrash metal catharsis that alternately pummels and haunts. The production work – recorded by BeKy himself at Backup Studio and mixed/mastered by CreeZ at Blu Room Studio – provides the perfect sonic palette for this journey, clear enough to convey the technical prowess while maintaining the rawness essential to the subject matter.
For fans of old-school thrash who appreciate music that doesn't shy away from exploring mental health's darkest corners, "Hallucinations" offers a genuine, unflinching examination rarely found in contemporary metal. While the vocal approach may occasionally feel at odds with the melodic underpinnings, this tension ultimately reinforces the album's exploration of internal conflict. Deathox has delivered a sophomore effort that builds on their debut's foundation while honing a distinct identity within the modern thrash landscape.
