Doomed Confessionary: Tony Dio (HexFog)
HexFog is a doom metal solo project hailing from New York City.
All music written and performed by Tony Dio.
HexFog’s most recent release is a three-track EP, entitled »Lacrimosa Aeternus«, which saw the light on September 15th, 2024.
Can you say a few words about your band?
HexFog is a one-man doom metal band from New Amsterdam. Formed around 2017 but did really get going until 2020.
The intention of the project was to mix up that old Candlemass style with some more modern cinematic and dark ambient styles. Taking influence from Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Paradise Lost’s »Gothic«, early 90s My Dying Bride, then adding Dead Can Dance, Lustmord, Richard Wagner, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and of course Basil Poledouris classic soundtrack for Conan the Barbarian.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
To focus on what the core sound of the band should be and not try to write long boring songs that have no emotional weight. Too many doom bands drag through 15 minutes of the same riff and I think that’s what turns a lot of people off to this genre. 15 minutes in a doom song should have variance in riffs and patterns and orchestration also adds to the power of the music I think.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Release wise I would say my best so far has been the »Descending From Darkness« EP and my latest release »Lacrimosa Aeternus«.
Production wise I think that my mixing and mastering is getting a little better over time. I produce everything myself on a laptop with Ableton Live and plugins.
What was your biggest regret?
Letting myself be distracted by simple minded fools and wasting my time instead of creating more music.
Life is full of parasitic psychic vampires, be mindful of these beings and use your best judgment to not be deceived by them.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
In my lifetime obviously seeing Black Sabbath on the 13th tour and the End tour. Then of course no one can match Slayer live. Sadly both of these bands are too old to play like they used too.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Hmmm, I don’t dig as deep into the scene as I did when I was a teenager. But I was highly impressed with KK Priest and their second album definitely gives Judas Priest serious competition.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
On a regular day it’s always the same albums. »Black Sabbath«, »Paranoid«, »Master Of Reality«, »Heaven And Hell«, »Mob Rules«, »Tyr«, »Headless Cross«.
Candlemass – »Ancient Dreams«, »Nightfall«, »The Door To Doom«
Slayer – Everything except that stupid punk cover album
Iron Maiden – 1980 – 1989 only
I just found out about this great Russian doom band called Skald, very cool stuff and great songwriting. Then of course you can’t forget about Mark Deeks and Arð – »Untouched By Fire« that is definitely the album of 2024. For Centuries from Mexico is also great. Oak from Portugal. There are always lots of gems out there just have to dig through the piles of shit.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
If you like to be broke, starving and homeless then this is probably for you.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Beer, pizza and plenty of aspirin.
Can you say something more about current music scene in New York?
New York City is a joke for music in 2024, only a handful of decent upstanding bands the rest….forget about it.
It amazes me as we had the best metal scene here in the 1980s, tons of famous bands played here and started here and we had the most infamous metal club called Lamour. Seeing Slayer at Lamour in the 80s could have landed you in an early grave, not kidding. The violence at Lamour was stuff of legend.
Now it’s really horrible here, too many politically correct transhumanist vaccinated hipsters bullsit who got into metal music just to cry about social justice. And while these poser fucks are crying about racism and slavery they work at starbucks just so they can pay off their 1,600k iphone bill every year. Total wankers. Most of these people in the scene are not even born in New York, mostly out of state trust fund kids who can afford an expensive lifestyle here but try to look homeless.
Metal music is about rebellion and freedom of the mind, not to be a slave to some leftist communist antifa garbage or right wing republicans funding endless wars for foreign nations.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
No where I am the only soul on this boat ride into hell.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Keep releasing music as much as possible in small doses, mostly EPs or singles.
How can people best support your band?
Check out my latest release »Lacrimosa Aeternus« with 3 crushing tracks for fans of doom, black, death and dark ambience: hexfog.bandcamp.com.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Thanks for any and all support over the years and stay tuned for more Funeral Orations to come.
Thank you Bojan for the opportunity.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well