Release Date: November 02nd 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: DD
Skuggor Del 1 - Tracklist
Kill The Light
Skuggor
Black Sun
Members
Joakim Atterfelt - Drums
Simon Hansson - Vocals
Fredrik Frendberg - Guitar/Bass
Andreas Petersson - Guitar/Bass
Review
Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers HÄXMÄSTAREN return with their latest EP - Skuggor Del 1. This is the band's first release since their 2021 debut album. A lot has changed behind the scenes for HÄXMÄSTAREN since then as three original members left the band. However, the band have regrouped with Joakim Atterflet (Drums) and Simon Hansson (Vocals) joining to complete the lineup.
This is a slightly different HÄXMÄSTAREN than what we experienced within their debut album This is a more dominant Punk Rock and Heavy Metal record but still containing the great Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal music they created for their acclaimed debut album. The record is superbly aggressive with excellent production values allowing the band to demonstrate a fast-paced musical energy that just taps right into the classic Doom/Stoner Metal sound that also has a strong sense of Proto-Metal appearing within the tracks of Kill The Light and Skuggor.
If you’re a fan of The Obsessed and Saint Vitus then you’ll be in your element here but you can hear vibes of KVELERTAK along the way mostly within Skuggor and Black Sun. There is a great sense of pure DOOM & GLOOM being played by HÄXMÄSTAREN where they keep things ultimately dark. However, the final stages of Skuggoer does contain an awesome uplifting Post-Stoner and Post-Doom instrumental melody that changes the whole narrative of the record.
It’s been stated that “Skuggor Del 1 is conceived as the first part of a larger full-length album and the opening chapter of a new era for Häxmästaren.”
If that’s the case then they’re off to a great start with Skuggor Del 1. As the record is packed full of massive sounds throughout and despite the short running time of Seventeen minutes, HÄXMÄSTAREN provide a non-stop spectacle of great grooves from start to finish.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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