Hexkonst is an eight track album of raw black metal, but I would not call it old school. It is a well-made black metal though not very original; Ondfødt stake much on speed and slower, powerful rhythms, rather than on atmosphere: they have actually good riffs often backed by very fast blast beats. The album opens with “Ur djävulens kittel”, an intro with keyboards and a pulsating bass, which leads you to “Blodspill”, one of the best songs on the album, which also contains a griping chorus in Viking folk style. Sometimes the Finnish roots of this band come to the surface, such as in “Kristi fanskap” and “Giganternes vraal”, in which a certain influence of Finnish bands like Behexen is audible. The Finnish sound is also evident in the eponymous song Hexkonst, which also contains icy riffs in the Norwegian manner. “Midvintermarsch” is the only song with a guitar solo and it is nice. The album closes with “Sorgens skyer”, instrumental piano outro, slightly reminiscent of “No Dreams Breed in Breathless Sleep” by Dissection.
The booklet has a good artwork with the photos of the members on each right page, but there are not the lyrics, so I will not be able to write about them.
Although not original, Hexkonst is a very good album, with an excellent production for an underground band, and clean sounds. It will surely appeal to all followers of raw black metal without compromise.
Notes:
Ondfødt is the norwegian for ‘born for evil’. Hexkonst was released on May 26, 2014 on Immortal Frost Productions limited to 500 copies.
Tracklist: 1. Ur djävulens kittel 2. Blodspill 3. Faensgyte 4. Kristi fanskap 5. Giganternes vraal 6. Hexkonst 7. Verlden er min slakteri 8. Midvintermarsch 9. Sorgens skyer | 01:15 04:23 02:40 03:16 04:01 05:03 03:11 05:49 03:00 43:42 |
Mikael Kåll - Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing)
Dario Vujosevic - Bass, Vocals (backing)
Owe Inborr - Vocals, Drums
Juuso Englund - Guitars (rhythm), Vocals (backing)
Simon Bondegård - Drums on “Verlden er min slakteri” and “Faensgyte”
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