I am neither the world’s biggest Black Metal fan, nor authority, and I would never pretend to be either. That said, the door to me being swept off my feet by Satan’s minstrels is always open. It happened last year with the latest Trelldom release, …By The Shadows….
Now it seems the Dark Lord has me under his spell again with Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp (Nordvis Produktion), the latest release by Häxkapell — the Swedish, (mostly) Black-Metal project driven by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Oraklet.
Oraklet may be a purist regarding what he refers to as “Black Metal,” but when it comes to the music of Häxkapell, there are few constraints — with the album blending elements of Death Metal, Folk and Heavy Metal organically and (just as often as it is harsh and abrasive) beautifully.
So while there are moments on this album that may remind the listener of the winter savagery of Immortal or Emperor, this is only one aspect of the album’s identity and appeal.
From the deep, velvet vocals that introduce album opener “Satans rötter” (like some ancient song of sailors coming through the mists), to the thunderous rhythm of drums and guitars that follows, every element of this album is fashioned to be rich, full and impactful.
Interested in exploring the light as well as the dark, life and death, beauty as well as savagery,
Oraklet fills Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp with dynamics — whether in the sonic peaks and valleys, the instrumentation, or the varied vocal approaches. On the latter point, Oraklet moves between a deep, resonant intonation (like a Scandinavian Peter Steele) and a harsh, more recognisably Black Metal shriek, to meet the needs of the music. His wife (who provides many standout violin parts throughout the album) even adds another vocal dimension with her eerie lines on “Vindar från förr.”
From the hammering barrages, (such as in the powerful “Urgravens grepp är hårt och kallt,” with its elegant violins, that morphs into a galloping charge), to the sombre tones exemplified in the reflective “Hem” (complete with willow flute, sparse acoustic guitar, and hushed vocals), every aspect of the album feels fully realised.
Whether it’s the catchy and rousing mid-point charge of “Metamofos” (complete with soaring Heavy Metal guitar solo, à la Iron Maiden), or the waltzing guitar and violin interplay of “Vindar från förr,” every one of the album’s six tracks is exquisite in its construction and as a whole could hardly be a more well-rounded and satisfying listening experience.
Those few weeks bridging one year to the next tend to be a grey zone for end-of-year lists — with releases either appearing too late for consideration or so early as to be forgotten come the next year-end.
So as a reminder to myself as a tip to readers, Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp stakes an early claim to sit amongst these end-of-year lists when the time comes. One of the best albums we are likely to hear in 2025.
Buy the album here:
https://haxkapell.bandcamp.com/album/om-jordens-blod-och-urgravens-grepp
9 / 10
TOM OSMAN
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