The unorthodox is often music’s greatest muse, bringing a sense of tweed aesthetic we embark on Hexvessel’s latest releases combining the classic era where The Doors reigned true with some intriguing ideas that will take you on an eerie trip of seventies nostalgia. Going back to basics with their approach we enter the weird and slightly off centre world of Hexvessel.
[tracklist]
1. Transparent Eyeball
2. Earth Over Us
3. Cosmic Truth
4. When I’m Dead
5. Mirror Boy
6. Drugged Up On The Universe
7. Teeth of The Mountain
8. Green Gold
9. Mushroom Spirit Doors
10. Hunter’s Prayer
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]Enter album length here[/length]
[record_label]Century Media Records[/record_label]
[release_date]29th January 2016[/release_date]
[/details]
Beginning our ghost folk “Transparent Eyeball” recalls the classic elements of seventies classics. In the style of a more back to nature Robert Smith, singer Matt McNirney delivers simple and effective vocals. Often taking a slight detour around the scenic route When We Are Death see’s a sense of the otherworldly come to light. With the addition of film noire like trumpets on “Mirror Boy” gives the album a simplistic yet cinematic feel.
“Cosmic Truth” brings Hexvessel’s melancholic angle to the fore with morose chords and simple drums with a beautiful introduction of softly spoken keys. Working within different sectors of the dream like soundscape the sonic variety ranges from almost Doors like blues on “When I Am Dead” or the slow drawl of “Green Gold“. Straying more towards the Prog Rock spectrum much of When We Are Death relate to the likes of Jethro Tull. Bathing the listen in a light wooden hue, using simple and classic instruments brings the idea of simplicity to a more apparent location. Contrary to the day an age where we rely on technology Hexvessel are quite happy to get back to basics and in touch with nature.
Aided somewhat by the production style, recalling the classic seventies era along with the fuzz style guitar tones bring to mind a sense of yesteryear. Whilst there might be more straightforward passages others “Mushroom Spirit Doors” take a more unorthodox tale. With a slight tickle of the occult the album retains that sense of darkness felt by Metal. Whilst always being anchored by a simple melodic hook often there will be a slight turnaround from the band. Melodically the riffs remind of the heritage of England with a slight Celtic swing on the drums rather than the pile driver hits that sometimes we might be used to. Whilst the likes of the appropriately titled “Drugged Up On The Universe” a slightly drunken guitar lime give way to a more psychedelic idea.
For those who prefer an out of body experience, When We Are Death will sit perfectly in the more psychedelic of musings. Easily digestible woodland tracks though sometimes tend to blend into each other create a fantastically earthy feel to the album tethering an otherworldly sense of the eerie with a simplistic throwback haze.
[verdict]Maybe[/verdict]
[why]No doubt Hesvessel might not appeal to all of our readers but for those seeking to return to the years of former glory for a stay in a hollowed t wood you would do well to give Hexvessel a listen![/why]
