ALBUM REVIEW: White Noise – Häxan

There isn’t enough classic rock done in recent years. Sure, there are bands like THE STRUTS and GRETA VAN FLEET, who have done well in their own right, but their sound is almost the same as the sound from the ’70s, with nothing new really offered to the table. Why doesn’t a band take the sound back to its roots and turn it into something new? Well, that seems to be the task that Welsh trio, HÄXAN, have decided to undertake with their debut album, White Noise, bringing original hard rock that is quintessentially them and no one else. A hefty task, but how do they do with this full-length outing?

Classic rock/hard rock is a hard style to emulate as everyone has done it throughout the ages. Even so, HÄXAN has managed the impossible and created their own sound within the genre that is uniquely theirs. Through start to finish, never letting up once, there’s such a strong energy from the group, both individually and together as a band. Their sound is very energetic and bouncy, but at the same time can be harsh and strong. Influences like RAINBOW, RONNIE JAMES DIO, and DEEP PURPLE are prevalent within the album, but the band know how to turn it into HÄXAN and not a carbon copy of someone else.

For example, Louder Than Words has similar vibes to Highway Star musically, but it’s the punchy sound and great lyrics that make it the band’s song through and through, especially thanks to singer and guitarist Sam Bolderson‘s riffs and iconic voice. That voice enables the meaning of each song and the intentions from the writing come through strong, and the passion from the voice is truly something to behold. 

Speaking of the music, it’s done very very well. The drums, delivered by Jess Hartley, give a steady pace for the rhythm, but also creating a great groove that gets the music flowing. The bass, from Harriet Wadeson, helps that driving beat remain strong and also adds more amazing rhythm and flow, bringing the sound back to that rhythm and blues core of the genre. Songs like Killing Time, Nine Lives, Crash And Burn, and Skeletons are all great examples of all the musical elements working together to create an excellent album. The only issue is in Grave Digger, which is another great song, very bluesy feel, but the vocals in the pre-chorus sound very shaky and don’t sound to have the breath or power behind them to carry it through. Probably would have been worth it to do another take of it, but it doesn’t detract from an amazing song on an amazing album.

Overall, White Noise is a brilliant addition to 2020’s lineup of fantastic albums, even if the year itself hasn’t been that great. It’s a new area of music that the band have created and really excel in this 2020 look at classic rock. It’s a stellar record from a stellar band, and if this group keep up this energy and momentum from White Noise, a lot of amazing things will happen to HÄXAN in the years to come.

Rating: 9/10

White Noise is out now via self-release.

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