Hexvessel - Polar Veil (2023)^{Release ID: 47439}

Until this release, Hexvessel had established themselves as being a psychedelic rock/folk outfit over the past fourteen or so years.  Deploying an increasing level of post-metal and atmospheric doom to their latest album (with a noticable flavour of some black metal making an appearance here and there) has seen them at last fall onto my radar.  Fronted by prolific vocalist and guitarist Kvohst (Beastmilk, Code, Void) these Finns have produced an enchanting and endearing listening experience that I was not expecting to enjoy as much as I have if I am honest.  With a strong connection to mysticisim and mythology, Hexvessel are described by Kvohst himself as being "a free spiritual journey and a musical odyssey with no boundaries".

This description fits Polar Veil perfectly as the opening track alone combines elements of black metal, doom and psychedelic rock to make a haunting and ethereal opening to proceedings.   Whilst occasionally hit and miss, the rest of the album builds well from this great start.  The intricate yet not at all complicated structures are omnipresent throughout all eight tracks.  Kvohst himself takes charge of songwriting duties and he has an obvious talent for this using his guitar to establish some soaring and dense riffs that pierce sections of songs to provide real highlights.  His darkly melodic vocals are a perfect accompaniment to the atmospheric keys and immersive depths of those riffs.  There are a couple of tracks where things do get muddled (closing track Homeward Polar Spirit sounds like there are two different tracks playing) and these are obtuse to the point of being distracting.  Yet at the same time there are absolutely fantastic pieces of music such as Listen to the River, A Cabin in Montana and my personal favourite, Ring that are so well composed and arranged that the less well constructed tracks do fade from the memory when the listener is in the presence of these more positive tracks.  

Whilst never testing the conventional black metal stakes too strongly, Polar Veil borrows elements of tremolo nicely alongside some touches of atmospheric bm that enhance the spiritual aspects of the album well.  At times I find the drums to be absent in sections of tracks or on whole songs.  However, when they are heard, their presence is hefty yet unintrusive.  I think this subtlety was a conscious effort in the mix to allow the more mystical aspects of the instrumentation to shine.  Having heard the previous album (Kindred) from some three years ago, it is fair to say the band have gotten heavier this time around and I can only hope this trajectory is maintained on future releases.  They still have a healthy mix of styles present here though that compliment each other nicely and so I am equally eager to hear that this blending of influences is alo retained moving forwards.  Think Sólstafir with elements of Urfaust and Blood Ceremony and you are on the right track here.