Year: 2025
Label: Rot ‘Em Records

To set the context of this review, I’m going to quote what the promo sheet says about this EP. Here goes:

“Reincarnation is a tribute to old school death metal, while at the same time ads some new flavor. Expect skull crushing riffs, heavy and sick guitar tones, blast beats and grooves. Most importantly for the first time, Hellwalker (B.R) managed to get the contribution of vocalist MITHUN MK with pipes and lyrics which complete the overall style perfectly.”

The promo sheet also lists as Hellwalker’s line-up being B.R. on instruments and Mithun MK on vocals and lyrics.

Now, based on the above information, did you assume there would be vocals on Reincarnation? Well, in smaller font size at the bottom of the promo sheet is the answer. The latest inclusion in Portuguese Hellwalker’s discography is: “Hellwalker – Reincarnation (instrumental) (EP) 05.11.2025.” (Elsewhere in the promo sheet, 2024 is given as the release year.)

The above gives us the answer: nope, no vocals. The promo sheet is outright lying when describing this EP. I actually assumed there was a previous version of Reincarnation that was instrumental, and the promo sent out had vocals added. But, no. Which makes this the most counterproductive promo I’ve ever seen, because what’s the point in a half-baked instrumental death metal EP?

This promo is so pointless, I’m reviewing it largely out of spite. Because not only is Reincarnation instrumental, it’s pretty futile, too. The drums are obviously programmed and sound totally plastic. The riffs in themselves are adequate but hardly interesting, and because of this, without vocals, the tracks are entirely pointless.

There are some decent melodies here and there, so with vocals this could perhaps be a semi-decent EP of somewhat old school death metal leaning towards Swedish melodicism but also containing elements of USDM. Apart from vocals, Hellwalker will also require a real drummer or much, much better drum samples before they’re worth giving the time of day. As it stands now, Reincarnation is nothing but a demo, and not one worth “officially” releasing.

Promos are meant to generate interest in a band. In this sense, especially with the wildly inaccurate promo sheet, Reincarnation does the absolute opposite. Whatever tepid interest I might have had for Hellwalker has been destroyed. Good riddance, say I, as I delete this from my review queue, and may we never cross paths again.

Hellwalker don’t seem to have an online presence, but visit the label’s Bandcamp for more info