Having reviewed Grave Pleasures‘ Plagueboys for Ghost Cult earlier this year, as a Mat McNerney fan I was excited to see he had another record out, this time via his folk-orientated project Hexvessel.  

Despite McNerney being a fellow Brit, Hexvessel as with Grave Pleasures, are based in Finland where he resides with his family and Polar Veil (Svart) is the band’s follow-up to 2020’s wonderful Kindred which had the misfortune of being released during Covid that would have made touring it nigh on impossible – instead a series of studio recordings were released until the fog cleared, including the teaser single “Older than the Gods”. 

McNerney’s past in Black Metal is evident from the outset with “The Tundra is Awake”, heavily distorted guitars, raw lo-fi recording style and icy cold atmospherics reminiscent of early classic Norwegian outfits such as Mayhem, amongst others. The track took me a little by surprise, sonically heavier in tone than I was expecting but with trademark melodic and soulful vocals. An exquisite opener. 

The aforementioned “Older than the Gods” brings a Viking Metal era Bathory influence to the fore, which you may have picked upon both in the title as well as sound; Hexvessel also incorporate classier traditional Folk and post-Punk elements to the mix. An incredibly moving and catchy piece, you can see why it was used to showcase the album.

“Listen to the River” sees Chelsea Wolfe collaborator Ben Chisholm providing lush strings and keys with a sound that is more traditional Hexvessel than witnessed so far, a song that may have passed as a number from second album No Holier Temple. Wonderful. I remember comedian Rich Hall once mentioning living in Montana as it is cold and far away, and this perfectly exemplifies the vibe you get on “A Cabin in Montana”, the album’s longest track that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of an isolated location. 

“Eternal Meadow” takes you by surprise, featuring some savage Black Metal tremolo picking and furious drumming. There are also some tasty neo-folk touches present à la Death In June and Current 93 making for an intriguing and remarkable listen.

Reading the album’s promo notes, “Crepuscular Creatures” is described as being on the more avant-garde end of the spectrum and there is definitely some truth to be had here with nods to drone-doom. Think Earth and Sunn O))) topped off with some lovely vocal crooning in the Scott Walker style. “Ring” is of a similar doomy disposition to its predecessor, with the track reminding one of classic Saint Vitus or even the more bombastic theatrics of Candlemass. “Homeward Polar Spirit” is imbued with the spirit of traditional Black Metal as well as a really cool Gothic melancholia that helps draw the album to a suitably bleak conclusion. 

Polar Veil is not what I was expecting from Hexvessel, being far heavier and darker in tone, like all the frustrations experienced during Covid were unleashed here. However, it works, making for irresistibly captivating listening. 

Buy the album here:

https://hexvessel.bandcamp.com/album/polar-veil

8 / 10

REZA MILLS