Häxkapell - Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp

Labels: Nordvis Produktion

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 17 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Satans rötter

2. Metamorfos

3. Urgravens grepp är hårt och kallt

4. Hem

5. Vindar från förr

6. Den sanna modern talar

Swedish black metal project Häxkapell released their second full-length in January via Nordvis Produktion, also of Sweden. The band revolves around founding member Oraklet, who is joined by contributors JM on drums and IPU on violin, viola and additional vocal duties. This album follows Häxkapell's debut album Eldhymner, which was released in 2021.

It was Fortress Festival in Scarborough (North Yorkshire) this past weekend and I regret not going. The fact that a black metal festival held in a Northern seaside town exists and it’s not held in the depth of winter is brilliant. Before you say it, I am aware that Fortress Festival has been going for sometime now. In fact, it would be the perfect UK festival to host Häxkapell one day, if the band ever were to play live.

Their latest album Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp begins with ‘Satans rötter’, which is filled with choral shanty-like vocals, exquisitely played melodic instrumentation and crushing black metal. It’s layered with introspection and gentle ambience, which breaks up the extremity beautifully. I’ve often overlooked the folkier end of black metal previously and I don’t know why. Maybe my musical palette is changing again because this is really enjoyable so far.

There’s no such build-up on ‘Metamorfos’ as Häxkapell just launch straight into some scathing black metal complete with metallic guitar riffs. The production, mixing and mastering cannot be ignored either, as it gives this album the space and soundstage it deserves. None of that hissing, feedback-laden BM here. It’s fantastic to listen to.

‘Urgravens grepp är hårt och kallt’ moves in a slightly more unnerving direction thanks to it’s slower-ish tempo, but there’s always a defined pace that’s prevalent in this form or black metal and it’s more than welcome. The strings provided by IPU here fit perfectly, as does JM’s pummelling drum work. Oraklet’s vocal and guitar delivery is epic, just as it is throughout the whole album.

The sounds of the landscapes and land-dwellers of old are brought to the forefront on ‘Hem’, with it’s traditional/acoustic musicianship and gently sung vocals. It offers a bit of calm before the storm to follow. I call it a storm, but it’s one that’s slow to build as ‘Vindar från förr’ initially takes the form of another mid-paced folk laden hymn. It does contain flourishes of more chaotic heaviness at times though.

Closing the album with the eleven+ minute epic ‘Den sanna modern talar’ sees the band delving deeper into their musical arsenal, providing a barrage of cold black metal alongside warming layers of strings once again. It’s just the ending I was hoping for, as it shows off how expansive Häxkapell can be. This album provides an exciting glimpse into the current Swedish black metal community, while also showing that Nordvis know what they’re doing (not that there was ever any doubt!).

You can stream and purchase the album on all formats below:-

You can also buy copies directly from Nordvis here - https://www.nordvis.com.

Häxkapell Instagram - @haxkapell

Nordvis Produktion - https://www.facebook.com/nordvis

Bhleg - Odhin

Labels: Nordvis Produktion

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 15 Jan 2021

Tracklist:

1. Vyss

2. Alyr III

3. Gyllene Gal

4. Slukad Sol

5. Odet

6. Drommen Om Vardtradet

It's pretty safe to say that the human race is currently taking a massive nosedive. Those who have radical views seems to be coming out of the woodwork, intent on causing chaos. All it does is make me want to retreat and find solace somewhere where those idiots are afraid to dwell. That being the folk/black metal of Sweden's Bhleg and their third full-length Odhin, which was released back in January via Nordvis Produktion. Since Bhleg's formation in 2013, the mysterious duo have been very productive, releasing three albums, an EP, a split and also a couple of singles too. Odhin is still available on vinyl, cd and of course digital variants.

Bhleg’s sound encompasses the rawness of black metal with the comfort of melodic instrumentation, which is something that’s very much the preserve of Swedish black metal bands. It’s a style that they do so well and on album opener ‘Vyss’, Bhleg crafts the two approaches into a lengthy and enthralling beast. The vocals are raspy growls, broken up by melodic chants. The guitars provide a constant rhythmic buzz alongside the lively traditional percussion, while keys give it an subtly orchestral layer.

‘Alyr III’ instantly fires into life next, with riffs that are precise and beautiful in their simplicity. The song overall is oddly soothing, as Bhleg slow the tempos down slightly, adding more atmosphere as a result. That said, everything here is very focused and as the quietness of traditional folk music takes over during the mid-section, time is given over to self-reflection and calm. The song’s latter half is a fantastic example of dramatic metal that’s cinematic and clearly influenced by the nature that exists around the band.

Keyboards are used to create a gorgeous ambient feeling during ‘Gyllene Gal’. The ability to create such a wholesome instrumental shows just how sensitive this duo really are. I’d be happy with an album full of instrumental songs if they were as good as this. That being said, it’s perfectly placed on Odhin and it’s context is clear here. The striking horn that sits atop of the icy black metal of ’Slukad Sol’ will awaken even the coldest of hearts with it’s call-to-arms, heralding another raging long-player from Bhleg, that’s almost hypnotic as you drive further in. Those soaring melodic vocals also ring out once again and add to the majesty of this release.

Penultimate song ‘Odet’ heads back in a more traditional direction in places but follows the same approach as ’Slukad Sol’ for the majority of it’s playing time. It’s such a great song to get lost in and once again highlights how good Bhleg are as musicians. Album closer ‘Drommen Om Vardtradet’ is a gentle acoustic song, providing calm amongst the dissonance. As a complete body of work Odhin is very cohesive, even with the levels of variation on show. Bhleg now feel like seasoned professionals and are very endearing to listen to. Black metal always divides opinion amongst metal fans but hopefully we can all unite over this release.

You can stream and purchase Odhin on all formats below:-

Bhleg - https://www.facebook.com/bhlegofficial

Nordvis Produktion - https://www.facebook.com/nordvis

Waldgeflüster - Stimmen Im Wind 2020

Labels: Nordvis Produktion

Formats: Vinyl (inc. CD)/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jan 2020

Tracklist:

1. Morgendämmerung

2. Waldgeflüster

3. Vintersjäl

4. Wotan Sang

5. Wenn Die Bäume

6. Abendämmerung

It’s an immense achievement for a band to still be making music after fifteen years. Waldgeflüster has grown from a solo-project to a full band in that time, with five full-length albums and split making up the quintets main body of work. It all started with this demo back in 2006 though. Now, as they head into 2020 and their fifteenth anniversary year, the time has come to not only look back at what started it all but to also bring that first demo to new, eager ears. "Stimmen Im Wind" was originally distributed on tape by now defunct German label Irminsul Records and now it is seeing it's first release on vinyl (which also includes a cd) via Swedish label Nordvis Produktion.

Waldgeflüster’s insistence on re-recording their debut demo for this release shows that while they’re not ignoring their roots, they are updating their sound to bring “Stimmen Im Wind” in line with their progression over recent years. It works very well because their atmospheric and sometimes barbaric black metal comes to life even more. Opener Morgendämmerung is a majestic one, with melodic and spacey guitar work and synths both complimenting and filling the gaps in between the rifling percussion and those harsh, sometimes industrial-like screams. 

The title-track is immediately triumphant as it reflects the prominence of modern day black metal, while still keeping faith with the sound that carved the genres backbone. The main riff that repeats during the opening ninety-seconds is glorious and uplifting and while that may not have been the original intention of Waldgeflüster, it certainly works within the song, which spans over ten-minutes in length. That’s not the only talking point here though. What’s also striking is the forays into folk, the use of clean vocals and the way that the band’s Germanic heritage remains throughout. 

The shorter Vintersjäl contains a much murkier atmosphere. At first it seems almost sludge-like before the layers and tempos build back up to full-flow during the mid-section. The shift in sound is subtle but it just shows how even the simplest of changes in dynamics can have a big impact on a band’s music, even on the same release. The orchestral feel is epic and the momentum stays high. Demos can always be a bit daunting for both band and listener but I get the impression that when “Stimmen Im Wind” was originally released, it was always approached as something a whole lot more. It comes across as being way more accomplished to these ears anyway.

Dense as it is, Waldgeflüster’s black metal exhibits a warmness that you don’t find with a lot of black metal, even nowadays and that more than likely stems from how experienced they are as a collective now. Wotan Sang Is once again a lengthier song but it manages to steer away from the martial tones that lead to muddiness and unnecessary repetition. There’s even room amongst it bars for what  sounds like old-school speed/traditional metal riffs for a brief moment or two (at least that’s what they sound like to me). 

Each song on here follows on from the last with ease, as if this body of work was meant as one long piece instead of the six individual ones that it became. The brief gap that leads into Wenn Die Bäume only reinforces that opinion when the intro gives way to a towering verse of both harsh vocals and clean melodies. Quiet acoustic parts again focus of the band’s folk-leanings, while the peace shattering way in which they launch back into full-band mode is not so much there for shock value, but more for continuation. The transitions are abrupt, which isn’t a descriptor that springs to mind very often when listening to this demo. 

As it began, “Stimmen Im Wind” closes with a slightly shorter piece and with Abendämmerung, Waldgeflüster does so in the best way possible. The acoustic calmness and the musicality/melody is perfect. It’s strange calling this a demo when it clocks in at over forty-minutes but semantics have never really been at the forefront of this review. What has been at it’s forefront is the way the music makes you feel and the professionalism with which it’s delivered. If you’re new to Waldgeflüster and don’t know where to head first, I’d suggest starting at the beginning with this. It will open your ears and mind up to a band that deserve so much praise and reverence. Breathtaking.

Digital and physical pre-orders are now available the band's Bandcamp page below, where the title-track is also available for streaming:-

Waldgeflüster - https://www.facebook.com/BlackMetalWaldgefluester/

Nordvis Produktion - https://www.facebook.com/nordvis/

Grift - Vilsna Andars Boning 7"

Tracklist:

1. Bortom Berget

2. Dårarnas Massiv 

I think my current level of tiredness is doing strange things to me, as I've not been sleeping all that well and I've been having some bizarre and vivid dreams. The dreams have nothing to do with this post except that if I could set them to music, they'd be even more bewildering. Maybe that's what drew me to Swedish black metal/folk entity Grift. This brand new 7" has only recently been released via compatriot label Nordvis Produktion. Sole member Erik Gärdefors formed Grift in 2011 and has since released a number of EPs, splits and two full-length records. 

EP opener Bortom Berget does not seem to sit within the vein of black metal at all, initially. It bristles with the soothing sounds of Swedish folk with Erik’s cleanly sung vocals, presented in native tongue. It is Metal Archives that describes Grift as a black metal band and while that may have been the case for the band’s earlier recordings, “Vilsna Andars Boning” feels like a natural progression towards music that is true to Grift’s roots and heritage. 

Dårarnas Massiv is equally as calming and majestic. Erik’s deep vocals sound authoritative and powerful, while the instrumentation stokes the fires of your soul with gentle melody and subtle yet upbeat melancholy. Talking as i was in my opening paragraph about the vivid dreams I’ve been having of late, this EP conjures up nice images through it’s music and buries itself subconsciously to help clear my head. We all need some kind of salvation and escape from both our conscious and unconscious minds. “Vilsna Andars Boning” is that salvation.

You can stream and buy the EP digitally below:-

Grift - https://www.facebook.com/Griftofficial/

Physical copies of the 7" are still available to purchase via Nordvis Produktion here - https://nordvis.bandcamp.com/merch

Nordvis Produktion - https://www.facebook.com/nordvis