Smashing together black metal, experimental folk and doom rock, Hexvessel, led by vocalist/guitarist Mat McNerney, match the sound of their arctic log cabin based recording setup perfectly. Polar Veil represents a new chapter in Hexvessel’s history, one dripping with eerie atmosphere and filled with dark, primal exploration.
From the opening track “The Tundra Is Awake”, Hexvessel’s statement of intent is clear with gloomy, gothic rock undertones bubbling up through the black metal guitars and ancient folk chanting. Unlike so many black metal bands who seem content in running their guitars through a maxed out Boss Metalzone and screeching vocals into a beaten up tape recorder, Hexvessel err on the more maximalist side of the genre with real attention paid to the production. With booming, balanced drums and clear, distinct guitars standing out against the ethereal, atmospheric backdrop alongside commanding vocals, Polar Veil is an island of clarity that stands out among a sea of lo-fi black metal.
A chilling tribute to the ghosts of the band’s native Finland, Polar Veil takes its time creating an oppressive, alluringly immersive environment for its songs, with many tracks building up slowly over their extended runtime. Tracks like lead single “Older Than The Gods” build layer upon layer of instrumentation, blending doom and black metal with McNerney’s confidently creepy vocal delivery, here joined by Bölzer frontman Okoi Thierry Jones with some appropriately intense backing vocals. The over six minute runtime of some of the tracks may seem extravagant at first but are often entirely necessary to convey the bitter, creeping emptiness of the arctic tundra.
“Polar Veil is an island of clarity that stands out among a sea of lo-fi black metal.”
Hexvessel defy expectations for both longtime fans and newcomers alike, jumping between genres and keeping the listener on their toes with a steady stream of new ideas. Whereas previous releases have kept the black metal influence as a backbone to explore other musical ideas, on Polar Veil it’s often on full display with the ritualistic folk and doom elements backing it up. Tracks such as the single “A Cabin In Montana” or “Eternal Meadow” shine a light on the discordant, tremolo-picked guitars and Jukka Rämänen’s intense, technical drumming, while “Listen To The River” and “The Tundra Is Awake” focus on the less aggressive aspects of Hexvessel’s sound. Don’t be fooled by the clean vocals and airy atmospheres, though; when it needs to Polar Veil stands up as a bonafide black metal album.
The album’s closer “Homeward Polar Spirit” is an unrelenting crescendo to Polar Veil that shows off Hexvessel’s ability to create brutal black metal instrumentation as well as their willingness to break free of the restraints of the genre. Incorporating both blistering blast beats with chaotic, distorted guitars and 1970s style, spiritual prog rock influences, Hexvessel manage to create an intriguingly gloomy soundscape that explores their melting pot of genres without sounding forced or disconnected, instead moulding these distinctly different sounds into a satisfying, cohesive whole.
Polar Veil lives up to its grand intentions, bringing across the cold, ceaseless darkness of the arctic while blending a variety of different influences into a gloomy metal melting pot of ideas. Alongside their bleak atmospheres, ritualistic folk influences and dramatic clean vocals, Hexvessel bring in enough brutal elements to please even the most dedicated black metal elitist.