Artist: Hæksenhamer
Country: Germany
Label: Death Revelations
Formats: LP / Cassette tape
Year: 2025
What was never supposed to be more than a drunken improvisation, turned out to be an excellent first release for Hæksenhamer. Recorded in just one day, ‘Heimat (Foul Folk Crusade)’ had a raw and aggressive minimalistic charm, combined with intriguing samples and some Folky elements. Indeed, the title of the EP said it all. If titles are indicatory of the content within, then no doubt we’re in for another treat with the first full-length, ‘Poisonous Heathenism +rabid:antikosmik:madness+’.
And indeed, rabid, gnarly and foul is what we can expect from this German band. While the original intention of the band was to play something in the vein of Arckanum, the music has evolved into a beast that combines elements of that Swedish Black Metal band with the likes of Darkthrone, Katharsis, Aaskeria and Peste Noire. Wild and unchained, it is perhaps a little bit less raw in sound than ‘Heimat (Foul Folk Crusade)’, but certainly not less aggressive or intense than. Where that EP was centred around a rather minimal guitar theme, essentially a variation of the same recurring riff across all three tracks, ‘Poisonous Heathenism’ is far more volatile and versatile in every possible way. Yet it’s not all unbridled aggression. The use of Folky elements, old media samples and an inherent melodic undertone give the music of Hæksenhamer depth beyond the violence, and a sense of unpredictable madness.
Yet if there’s one thing that stands out, it’s the pure passion with which the band brings the music. The vocals are properly unhinged, adding to the ferocity of the material. Take ‘For the Broken Hearts’. After a Folk acoustic intro, a ferocious roar calls forth raw Black Metal that is intense and threatening yet contains a sense of groove. Similarly, in ‘Old Brews of Perdition’ it’s the savage roars that call for battle, often wildly barking while there is some slight room for buried melodies. Variation of pace is well integrated, for instance culminating in a massive sounding slower apotheosis to the track. ‘Götterdämmerung’ is then a more gentle-sounding interlude, with loud acoustic strumming and samples. If it hadn’t ended rather abruptly it would have been a perfect transition to ‘Ride the Eternal Night’, a statement act of rage. Cold riffs with a sense of monotony, rattling drums, disorienting pianos and even some clean vocal choirs add a level of bewitchment, beauty even, to the otherwise untamed rage. ‘Haunting Winter Darkness’ strums eerily, adorned with cosmic keys and barking vocals. The atmosphere is somewhat melancholic, yet also chaotic with a sense of atonal dissonance to the guitars. The final track ‘Antikosmik Outlaws’ then initially brings back the focus on a singular riff that remains a constant in a wildly changing drum landscape. Called to a stop by a bellowing cry, the song evolves into a yearning underlying melody that finishes off the record with moody organs.
Radio samples, pianos, ingrained yearning and a sense of Folk mixed with violent and unhinged Black Metal with wildly spirited vocals. Trying to fit everything that Hæksenhamer offers on ‘Poisonous Heathenism’ into one sentence doesn’t seem to do them justice. This is pure passion and heartfelt aggression, a band pouring their heart and soul out in six tracks. Pure devotion to Black Metal, as it should be.
