Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Hexella (USA)

Photo credit: Ivan Xavier

Hexella (Black ‘N’ Roll // USA)

Hexella was originally conceived in Deep South Texas by Noelia Garza (vocals, lyrics, and songwriter) in 2019 as a studio project. JD De La Rosa would help bring the sounds of Hexella to life on the drums during the writing process and add solos to the already written material. JD records, mixes, and masters all the music at Negative Audio Studio thus far.

In September 2021, Hexella digitally debuted a two-song demo featuring »Blood Ejaculate Chaos« and the single »High On Demonic Possession« off their forthcoming EP »A Road In Hell«. The EP would later be released digitally in October of 2021. Goat Throne Records would go on to release the EP on tape, and Tenebrous Aberrations Productions would release it on CD, both during January of 2022. Hexella’s sound has continued to evolve with the addition of bassist Richard Casas. In March 2023, Hexella joined forces with Wülfskol and released a split titled »Burn With Us« via Goat Throne Records, initiating Hexella’s first release on vinyl.

Now, five years on from their formation, Hexella are prepared to unleash their first full-length: »The Ancient Gaping Mouth«. Two years in the making, »The Ancient Gaping Mouth« is a succinct summation of the Hexella aesthetic. From ripping to rocking, blasting to D-beating, the power-trio cover all facets of classic ’80s-rooted black metal. But whereas so much first-wave black metal hinged on blasphemy or conventional definitions of “evil,” Hexella here lyrically focus on the anti-cosmic as well as an authentically Satanic exploration of the nightside.

Songwriting-wise, »The Ancient Gaping Mouth« excels in its robust and restless simplicity, shifting tempos and dynamics often but always with a linear, go-for-the-throat trajectory. The recording – again handled by JD at Negative Audio Studio, including mixing & mastering – is that rare breed of clarity, sharpening the demonic aggression whilst never neutering the inherent evil. The return of darkness and evil is at hand with Hexella!

Hexella’s highly anticipated debut album, »The Ancient Gaping Mouth«, was released June 27th, 2025 via Hells Headbangers Records on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. Get your copy HERE.

Courtesy of Hells Headbangers Records

Discography:
• »Blood Ejaculate Chaos« Demo (2021)
• »A Road In Hell« EP (2021)
• »Burn With Us« Split with Wülfskol (Goat Throne Records, 2023)
• »The Ancient Gaping Mouth« LP (Hells Headbangers Records, 2025)

Hexella is:
Noelia Garza – Vocals, Guitar, Bass
JD De La Rosa – Drums, Guitar
Richard Casas – Bass

FFO: Bathory, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Midnight, Venom, Kreator, Slayer, early Sodom, Sarcófago, Desaster

Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp1 | Bandcamp2 | Spotify | YouTube

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well