Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Hexjakt - Hexjakt (EP Review)

Release Date: January 31st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Hexjakt  - Track Listing:

Rites of Fire 8:05

Thunderous Skies 8:12

Valley of the Dead 4:50

The Flood 7:49


Members


Hampus Henningsson - Guitar/Vocals

Toni Åkerman - Bass/Vocals

Dan Nordin - Drums


Review


Hexjakt are a Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal band who add a menacing Sludge Metal attitude to their music Their debut EP sees the band’s music bound by the unearthly domains and gloomy rules set down by their forefathers such as Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard and even High On Fire when Hexjakt decides to play that aggressive Sludge Metal sound. There’s a long drawn out distorted FUZZY amplifier groove inspired by the classic teachings of Black Sabbath.


There’s quite a progressive energy moving amongst the darkened masses of the excellent opening track Rites Of Fire which shows Hexjakt include that trademark SWEDISH DOOM/STONER Metal energy into the mix which allows the album to be quite abrasive and focused on more reverb based pastures. The vocals are quite grizzled and from the old-school of HARD ROCK and HEAVY METAL dominance with a touch of modern aggression that matches the sublime “CAVEMAN” or “PRIMAL” lyrics that truly come to life on tracks such as Rites Of Fire, Thunderous Skies and The Flood.


If you ever wondered what CONAN would sound like if given a SWEDISH based makeover then Hexjakt are perhaps the closest you’ll get to that vision. The instrumental sounds are LOW & SLOW and quite deafening in places. There’s a subtle rhythm that appears content and confident throughout with a punishing rhythm section allowing the sludgy guitars to conjure up a classic style of Sludge/Stoner Metal that crackles with violent excitement when the Psychedelic/Sonic visions appear.


Hexjakt's self-titled EP may not be the most groundbreaking style of music it doesn’t need to be. The underground scene will no doubt worship at the ALTAR and CHURCH of HEXJAKT where the riffs speak volume. Hexjakt pays huge respects to the legendary bands of the genre whilst forging some downright brutally original grooves of their own towards the later stages of the EP. The production values are quite LO-FI based but matches the whole sound and creative vision which makes this such an outstanding record to release as your debut release.


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Hexjakt for the promo.


Hexjakt will be available to buy digitally from Friday 31st January 2025.


Links


Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram