If ever there was a time to take a brief respite from madness and apocalyptic extreme metal it is now and thankfully some relief is at hand. Just over a year after last album ‘All Tree’ Finnish forest folk band Hexvessel led by English / Irish troubadour Matt McNerney are back with their delicate brand of earthy and poetic balladry. Of-course as Kvohst, McNerney was involved in extremism as a Supervillain Outcast with Dodheimsgard as well as contributing to Code, Void, The Deathtrip and a host of others. Getting his rock and post punk on with Beastmilk and Grave Pleasures he has led a varied musical career but none quite as organic and down to earth as the gorgeously simplistic and back to basics gentle touch of Hexvessel. Since moving to Finland and finding like-minded souls to compose with, the albums have come thick and fast towards this, their 5th full length album. It’s been an enlightening journey for those of us who have partaken it so far and although never knowing quite what surprises we will find dipping into a new album it always seems to be an enjoyable one as new songs take form, the past merges with the present and the fronds of the very deep dark woods entwine themselves around the listener.
Lush, uncluttered and without any of the mania of modernity, rest assured although lush this is a simplistic affair in essence with nothing really to challenge or confuse. It is the opening number ‘Billion Year Old Being’ and the longest track here that holds the most in the way of leafy foliage whilst the rest of the tracks seem more like fluttering petals gently falling in the breeze. With a melody that a gloomy mid era Opeth would have killed for it takes form with booming drums and a carnival vibe before organs trill and a Devil’s tritone summation is ritualistically performed part Omen soundtrack and another kitschy Ghost. Witchy backing vocals and a steadied giallo-esque beat pervade and this is definitely a focus track with some mania behind it. However, it strikes as one of a kind and from here on in things simmer right down to more pastoral and folky essence. ‘Demian’ is no less catchy with its fragrant vocal call and near lullaby sound. Vocals are placating and soulful and although somewhat jolly the tone on the album is overall a maudlin and sorrowful one as though our minstrels are looking back at times gone by with hunger in their eyes in reverence to the old ones and the caress of the green man, legends of old and pagan mystery. You can name many classic singer and songwriters from the 60’s and beyond when addressing individual songs but the channelling of neo-folk from the hands of Coil is one totally unexpected delight here with a cover of ‘Fire Of The Mind’ their angelic conversation of the track sumptuous and heartbreakingly gorgeous. Total reverence and respect to a classic number paid. Digging deep and finding ‘Bog Bodies’ in ancient Palaeolithic burial mounds its left to that beseeching voice, and gentle musicianship including a faint brass warble in the wind to haunt the senses and numb the very soul; everything about what we are hearing induces states of bliss and near nirvana.
Along the journey there are a couple of fragmentary instrumental interludes to add textures and nuances to the main songcraft; all adding further illumination to the trip. The austere lyrical poeticism of Phaedra shows tragedy is never far away and this historical venture with slow brooding drum beats and meandering brass tones has you focussing on the words and dipping back in time. Hitting some higher notes with an almost scat style of crooning before leading off down a mystical path hidden away ‘Kindred Moon’ has you wandering in delight, the trail, lit by just the astral delights of the night sky to guide. It’s near impossible to choose a favourite part but the unabashed delight of the melody on ‘Magical And Damned’ comes close and is absolutely spellbinding and completely natural sounding in spite of its again simplistic “nature.” All good things have to come to an end and what better way than with ‘The Joy Of Sacrifice’ a pagan delight indeed a song good enough to beseech Ostara herself. The crops will thrive after this, the land will be cleansed and rebirth has hopefully never been so assured.
(8.5/10 Pete Woods)
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