HEXVESSEL

Nocturne

Hexvessel’s seventh album marks a significant shift from their previous records, taking a darker turn into blackened doom territory. Mostly known for their psychedelic rock sound, this new direction feels both bold and refreshing. Nocturne opens with ‘Opening,’ a purely orchestral piece that sets the tone for the rest of the album—slow and doomy, almost like a waltz. ‘Sapphire Zephyrs’ continues that rhythm but layers in black metal riffs, growls, and Matt McNerney’s powerful vocals paired with operatic female harmonies. The result leans more into melodic black metal than anything the band has previously done.

‘Inward Landscapes,’ the album’s longest track at 8:45, offers a beautiful acoustic interlude before plunging back into heavier territory. ‘A Dark And Graceful Wilderness’ is a standout—introspective and nature-focused, it captures the quiet resilience of the wild in the face of chaos. It’s a breathtaking track that evokes the feeling of solitude in the woods. ‘Spirit Masked Wolf’ blends the earlier black metal/waltz elements, reinforcing the album’s somber mood in a compelling way. ‘Nights Tender Reckoning’ leans into Hexvessel’s folk roots while continuing their evolution toward a post-black metal sound. ‘Mother Destroyer,’ first released as a single, plays more like theatrical spoken word wrapped in a black metal atmosphere. ‘Concealed Descent’ is a quiet acoustic piece that bridges ‘Mother Destroyer’ and ‘Unworld,’ with subtle touches like the sound of footsteps in snow adding depth and texture.

‘Unworld’ brings back the heavy with haunting vocals and a crushing riff section around the four-minute mark. The album closes with ‘Phoebus,’ a fitting end to this waltzing, doomy journey. Overall, Nocturne is a standout release. While preserving elements of Hexvessel’s folk past, the embrace of a darker, more blackened sound feels like a natural progression. It’s an ambitious and atmospheric record that’s sure to resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.