ALBUM REVIEW: Hold Sacred – Esben And The Witch

May 10, 2023 Tom Fordham

Taking their name from the Danish fairytale Esben og Troldheksen, and known for being notoriously hard but refreshingly difficult to categorise, ESBEN AND THE WITCH have been defying musical boundaries since they formed in Brighton in 2008. With their incredible innate ability to create beautiful atmospheres with though provoking lyrics, the band’s emotionally charged music has touched the darkest parts of our souls and shown them light in ways only music can explain. On their sixth album they do so again, stripping it all back and keeping it raw; Hold Sacred is a special, personal and though-provoking album that leaves an indelible mark on your heart.

Hold Sacred is unlike anything that the band have put out before. The album came together in multiple places, taking the band from Italy to France and eventually to Germany when the world shut down in 2020. It channels the uncertainty of those times and is in essence a celebration of the band’s deep friendship which helped them get through the darkest of times. With no live drums, the trio of Rachel Davies, Thomas Fisher and Daniel Copeman have focused on creating ambient atmospheres with spacious reverbs with only vocals, keys and guitar. It is a stark contrast to their previous album, 2018’s Nowhere, which had thick metallic layers, instead it harks back to 2014’s A New Nature, an album the band produced with Steve Albini, taking on his production philosophy by keeping the record as raw as possible.

Hauntingly beautiful, spiritually meditative, Hold Sacred feels like an angelic hand of white light plucking your soul out of the deepest and darkest shadows with a gentle kindness that it hasn’t known before. Lyrically, Davies has gone to a vulnerable and personal place, allowing her subconscious thoughts to dictate the lyrics, and this has brought to the fore what had been gnawing at her emotionally. The effects of burnout and mental struggles are laid bare, with Davies bravely stepping out behind mythology and metaphor to sing with soulful, emotive honesty. This stirs something deep within you; while there is an element of doom and gloom, there is also a hopeful catharsis transcending the album. With each song focusing on different elements of a mental health journey, Davies’ lyrics certainly hit home, especially when you reflect on the last few years in the album’s meditative calmness.

With this deep emotional weight entwined with lusciously layered, reverb-soaked melodies it is hard to truly express the power that Hold Sacred has without being heavy or metallic, unlike ESBEN AND THE WITCH’s previous work. You can feel the catharsis that stripping it all back has produced for the band; they sound unrestricted and unencumbered, allowing all the emotions of the previous three years to flow freely and instinctively. Taking the pressure off themselves has been one of their best decisions as Hold Sacred is truly remarkable in what it achieves with so few elements.

With each song possessing its own eloquent message, The Well opens up the album with an eerie contemplation on depression. Davies starts the song in a dark place but gradually summons strength and escapes, with glimmers of hope. With soft, hopeful guitar melodies and synth swells, it’s a powerful experience. In Ecstasy’s entrancing beat changes the energy as the band grasp the healing power of glimmering moments in a spiritual way. It leads into Fear Not which breathes more hope into the album; luscious synth swells and echoing guitar melodies relax you as the lyrics tell you not to be afraid no matter how dark it is. You get a real uplift from the song.

Silence 1801 serves as a spiritually-charged moment that leads into True Mirror. The latter utilises Davies’ captivating storytelling to explore the topic of self-loathing, while internally seeking transcendent self-love and acceptance. As the song evolves it leads into the beautifully uplifting and stirring A Kaleidoscope which explores rebirth and the beauty that comes with peace and growth. Heathen chronicles the conversations you have with yourself and is a moment of beautiful calm and quiet which makes the song all the more impactful. The Depths is a vulnerable moment as you learn to swim out of your darkness after being dragged below. Album closer Petals Of Ash illuminates the concept of “Yes, I am frightened, but I’m also full of love” driven by a pulse and hypnotic keys, with the idea that when the world ends, all we have is love.

Despite its minimalistic and raw approach, Hold Sacred is incredibly rich, hauntingly beautiful and empowering. ESBEN AND THE WITCH have created an album that sounds like your soul singing to you, showing you how powerful you are and how full of love you are, despite your fears and the darkness you’ve been through. This album is to be cherished with gentle care and is a powerful message to everyone.

Rating: 9/10