Gravewürm / Hekseri --
Annihilation Declaration / Der Hexenhammer (Split CD)

Gravewürm:
Getting a Gravewürm Split CD is like traveling back in time to the late 80’s. The only thing missing is the actual vinyl, but that doesn’t matter cause the CD smells of moth balls and decayed silk flowing over rotted flesh. The effect is horridly olfactory and auditory in a vibe sinister enough to make the most villainous Metal fan shiver with trepidation.

Guitars groove ‘n’ thunder in mesmerizing minimalism careening in headbanging notes that are choppy and doomy. Distortion flies off the guitar like sparks trailing a busted muffler rubbing asphalt, and bass rolls tightly in a paradoxical lumber like a functional alcoholic driving a school bus full of kiddies. Drums are listlessly serpentine, but they are played cleverly dynamic against the tiny rhythms and tempo changes spliced between heavy guitar riffage. Vocals are hard charging rasps like an emphysema patient gagging evil odes through a carton of smokes.

What makes Gravewürm an exceptional band is their ability to fill the music with tempo changes in the right spot. This enhances the meatiness of riffage in slower parts while creating a sense of tension that builds till listeners are mashed by faster methodic wavy guitars chords bent on making the most resistant headbang uncontrollably. Essentially, Gravewürm are purveyors of minimalism, for they realize Metal music has always been inherently ugly, and that friends, is where the true beauty resides.

Hekseri:
This is a band I had never heard before. Now, some of my buddies on the east coast have emailed about how great they sound, but those idiots never sent me a CD. So when I got the Gravewürm Split with Hekseri I was happier than a knife in a sacrificial virgin.

Hekseri play a tweener of Thrash and Black Metal. The music oozes an antiquitarian atmosphere as if the recording was done in a dungeon or Spanish Inquisition torture chamber. Howls, screams, and hoarse demonic oaths enhance the sinister vibe of the music. Riffage laden tracks weave through a variance of tempos with a few toxic leads slicing off earlobes. Bass rumbles effectively, and up tempo drums hammer with cymbals cackling in furious taunts.

Not only does Hekseri perform capably on this Split, they mirror the sheer ugliness of Gravewürm with their vintage sounding Metal laced with enough demonic delight and heathenish revelry to make me want to crucify Christ (Uh, I don’t think he existed, but goddamn it I am going for symbolism). Most gratifying about Hekseri is how the band has a sense of urgency blended with occultism in their songs. This gives the music a nefarious eroticism that is quite enthralling especially during the main riff of “Triumphant Death.”

What more can I write except that fans would be fools for missing out on this Split CD featuring Gravewürm and Hekseri. Of course a larger part of the population is buying the new Metallica as I type these words, but fans reading this are smart enough to sidestep that corporate rock rubbish for ‘Annihilation Declaration/Der Hexenhammer,’ right?

By Mike Lidia

http://www.unholycult.com/Gravew_rm_Hekseri.html

THE ATROCITY (early demos) Review

The most surprising thing about Hekseri’s music is how melodic it is.  A description of black/thrash metal does not genuinely make you think of romantic melody, despite how each of those root genres frequently possess such an element in spades.  But Hekseri changes it up by playing fairly brutal black/thrash that periodically dives into sections of surprisingly great, medieval melody worthy of many legendary bands.  Hekseri is a pretty popular cult act in the New England black metal scene, and for good reason: they make unique, intriguing music with a great deal of talent behind it.

First things first: the production on this collection ranges from listenable to pretty poor.  The tape hiss is always very audible, and the guitar riffs are often difficult to discern due to an overly cluttered, murky sound.  Drums are often reduced to a background rumble, and the only things which really stick out are the (admittedly excellent) solos and viciously spat vocals.  The main culprits in this regard are the tracks off the ‘Belzebut, Prince’ demo: they have the rawest production of all the tracks and aren’t a super comfortable listen.  I’ve heard worse, though, and the low quality of the production just means that you have to listen more closely: nothing is actually indistinguishable.  Moreover, the music really is worth listening to closely: there’s a lot of really cool, varied riffing and melodies under the production, and it’s really a worthwhile compilation as a whole.

Hekseri’s music is very fast and violent, but is also very melodic, as previously stated.  The most unique part of these melodies is their definitely medieval sound: they could be parts of minstral folk tunes from the 1100’s without trouble.  The solos are the most clear example of it, and each one is extremely well written and memorable.  The solos form the musical centerpieces for every song and are some of the most unique in recent memory.  Such an atmosphere is present in the riffing as well, though it is to a lesser extent: the band generally preoccupies themselves with a more ‘brutal’, Norwegian-inspired style for the most part, though laced with an underlying breed of melody that sets it apart from most.  Drumming is weirdly hyper, and sound machine-made in general, though Hekseri does have a drummer.  The blasting seems almost too fast and happy for the music; it’s strange to describe drumming as ‘perky’ sounding, but it is here for some reason.  Vocals are a higher-pitched form of Abbath’s croaking, but are emitted with a compelling level of intensity.

Although I feel the production is somewhat problematic, it’s not enough of an issue to dissuade me from recommending this tape.  The music is simply too unique and creative not to try out; I suppose it’s not too far removed from the sort of thing Peste Noire is doing, though this is much more uptempo and aggressive and less pretentious.  As a collector’s item, it’s quite nice: a two hundred limited tape from a very cult New England artist is something I enjoy a lot.  But above and beyond the product, there is a great level of artistry and majesty at work in this music.  This compilation shows huge creativity and atmospheric grasp on the part of this band, and I want to hear more from these guys soon.  Get it for the melodies, stay for the music, and don’t be turned off by a bit of fuzz.

~ by noktorn on October 1, 2007.
http://noktorn.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/hekseri-the-atrocity-early-demos-early-demos/