Hexvessel Metal 4 Items

Hexvessel, the enigmatic Finnish band known for their genre-defying musical conjurations, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated second vinyl pressing of their sixth album, "Polar Veil," via Svart Records, including new limited vinyl colours and a poster! Following the unexpected shift in tone from their Psychedelic Folk roots to a more atmospheric Black Metal sound, "Polar Veil" not only garnered Hexvessel a broader and even more diverse audience but also became one of Svart Records' best-selling albums of 2023.

Originally released to critical acclaim, "Polar Veil" earned the title of #1 Metal Album of the year in Sweden's Aftenposten newspaper, secured the #2 spot in Inferno Magazine's top 10 domestic Metal Albums of the year, and claimed the #13 position in Soundi's top 20 domestic albums of the year after receiving a stellar 5/5 review. The album was also nominated for Band of The Year in the Finnish Indie Awards, setting the stage for an exciting year of live shows in 2024.

Hexvessel's sixth album "Polar Veil" is a mesmerizing journey into the Sub Arctic North, weaving together elements of Black Metal, Ritual Folk Psychedelia, and Doom Rock. The second LP pressing is available on Svart exclusive transparent violet vinyl, limited transparent yellow vinyl, and standard issue black vinyl. Each pressing comes with a large-scale 12-page booklet featuring artwork by Thomas Hooper and the Svart exclusive edition also has a poster showcasing Benjamin König's stunning, jaw-dropping cover artwork.

Experience the magic of "Polar Veil" once again. Don’t miss out on one of these limited rarities and order your copy now!

Finland’s Hexvessel return with their sixth album, Polar Veil, a cold, metallic hymn to the Sub Arctic North. Haunted by primal forest spirits, Mat “Kvohst” McNerney summons the ghosts of his past in a jaw-dropping, unheard-of rebirth of style and sound. At once unmistakably Hexvessel, Polar Veil is also steeped in the nocturnal atmosphere of McNerney’s past, churned in the cauldron of Black Metal, Ritual Folk Psychedelia and Doom Rock, and echoing with shivering Gothic undertones. Polar Veil features Ben Chisholm, main collaborator and multi-instrumentalist with Chelsea Wolfe on Listen To The River, Nameless Void from Negative Plane, performing the guitar solo on the song Ring, and Okoi from Bölzer on guest vocals on Older Than The Gods. When the components of the medicine are familiar but brewed in a completely novel concoction, the resulting side effects can be deliriously intoxicating. Peer behind this Polar Veil for a breath of fresh tundra air.

Polar Veil is pressed on limited edition transparent lake green vinyl, limited transparent ice clear natural vinyl and standard issue blacker than midnight wax variants and each comes with a large scale 12 page booklet featuring artwork by Thomas Hooper.

Limited Svart exclusive box set edition. The demo LP will not be available separately.

Hexvessel and Svart Records celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Hexvessel’s debut album Dawnbearer with a set of reissues, including CD, double vinyl plus an exclusive vinyl box set with a bonus LP containing demos and early versions of tracks on the album.

“Dawnbearer is a very important album for us, being our first album but also the first original album release for Svart Records. It’s also a very special record for our fans, and one that’s particularly close to my heart, in a world of its own when compared to the other records we have made. Considering that it’s been out of print now for some time, I’m delighted to be able to oversee a reissue of this album, together with original demos and out-takes, and liner notes showing the making of this album which carries the initial DNA of Hexvessel’s musical and spiritual journey”, says band leader Mat McNerney, “We haven’t touched a thing on the original layout, but added some bonus material for the limited edition, should you wish to own a luxury edition of this, our now classic debut.”

Hexvessel band was founded by English singer/songwriter Mat McNerney (Beastmilk, Grave Pleasures, Carpenter Brut etc) after he moved to Finland in 2009. Their style of music has been referred to as “forest folk” or as Noisey/Vice puts it: “Weaving English folk, lilting Americana, and mushroom-induced psychedelia”. Their debut album 'Dawnbearer' was released worldwide in 2011 on Svart Records and is considered to be an influential classic record of the modern Occult Rock revival. Highly popular with Hexvessel fans and unique in their catalogue, featuring guitars by Andrew McIvor (Code), violin work of Daniel Pioro (who works on Paul Thomas Anderson’s soundtracks with Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead), the early production work of Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost), and guest vocals from Carl Michael Eide (Virus, Ved Buens Ende, Aura Noir).

“Think Woven Hand, haunted ’60s/’70s pastoral folk, or a darker riff on Midlake. McNerney covers Clive Palmer’s post-Incredible String Band crew C.O.B. and successfully transforms and darkens Paul Simon’s “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes.” He quotes Crowley, Truman Capote, Isaac Babel, etc. Unlike black metal-ready folk, this is folk by a talented, ambitious black metal musician. But the energy’s there. As is the atmosphere.” - Stereogum

“(Part of) a new wave of bands who share many of the original occult bands' musical and philosophical characteristics, spearheaded by Ghost, from Sweden, and the Devil's Blood, from Holland – have begun to lure in a new generation of fans, predominantly from the metal scene, their names alone – Ancient VVisdom, Hexvessel, Blood Ceremony– point to a focused step back to the age of Wheatley and Hammer. ” - The Guardian (2011)