ALBUM REVIEW: Kindred – Hexvessel

HEXVESSEL have had something special lingering around them since their formation. A self-proclaimed psychedelic forest-folk band, it’s obvious that they’re a little more out there than others, and as they’ve proved over their time, the strange can bring beautiful and extravagant things. Despite last year seeing them release All Tree which was slightly stripped back to what was expected, their new album Kindred is set to see them vamp everything back up and deliver a whole new level to their sound.

Billion Year Old Being opens the album up with delicately haunting guitar notes before quickly flicking the switch into the dark and heavy psychedelic realms. Surrounding the entire song, there’s this feeling of panic that swirls around, there’s an inability to escape it but it is in the most enticing fashion. Moving on to Demian and Fire Of The Mind, the heaviness starts to drift away but the haunting and almost unsettling atmosphere remains. Fire Of The Mind is once again stripped back, and displays that the HEXVESSEL are able to hold onto a certain ambience regardless of the complex or simplistic approach to their performance. It shows great talent, and excellent musicianship as a collective to be able to maintain something from two sides of a spectrum.

Bog Bodies continues in a similar manner, before leading into Sic Luceat Lux, the most experimental sounding song on the album. At just under two minutes of an instrumental, it has its place on the album considering that HEXVESSEL aren’t without their complexities, but it certainly takes a while to be able to sit and listen to it in it’s glory. It’s an uncomfortable listen, and feels as though these are all mashed sound effects to go into a thriller movie, but without experimentation, this wouldn’t be a HEXVESSEL album.

Sic Luceat Lux quickly draws into Phaedra, a song that definitely is up there as one of the strongest on the album. From vocals to the dark, almost western vibe that comes through, it oozes with power and strength. The same strength seeps into Kindred Moon, but in a more dynamic manner. It has that experimental level from Sic Luceat Lux, muddled in with the grounding emotions of Fire Of The Mind. Although it isn’t high in resemblance, at times throughout the chorus, there’s a definite PINK FLOYD vibe that goes on, and it is welcomed with open arms.

Magical & Damned sets a warmer tone despite a more bittersweet emotion that drives through, and it is here where the delivery of Mat McNerney‘s vocals really show just what he is capable of. His voice sounds like velvet as it echoes around each lyric, leaving you hooked in this particular moment. The same applies for the albums closing song Joy of Sacrifice, although in a much more harmonious fashion. It certainly feels like it’s in a dream-like state, a clever way to close an album off by creating something resembling a darkened lullaby and putting it to sleep ready for the next awakening.

Whilst this album might not be for everyone straight away, depending on the level of how deep you’re into the HEXVESSEL void, it is a pleasurable listen, even with all of it’s darkness, sinister moments, and uncomfortable atmospheres. It shows off all of the talent and skill that goes into building an album that is fuelled with experimentation and passion from all angles. They’ve always created something unique, but Kindred just sounds a little more extraordinary as they go further down the unruly paths of the forest.

Rating: 8/10

Kindred is out now via Svart Records.

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