Hexvessel, the enigmatic Finnish band known for their genre-defying musical conjurations, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated second vinyl pressing of their sixth album, “Polar Veil,” via Svart Records, including new limited vinyl colours and a poster! Following the unexpected shift in tone from their Psychedelic Folk roots to a more atmospheric Black Metal sound, “Polar Veil” not only garnered Hexvessel a broader and even more diverse audience but also became one of Svart Records‘ best-selling albums of 2023.
Originally released to critical acclaim, “Polar Veil” earned the title of #1 Metal Album of the year in Norway’s Aftenposten newspaper, secured the #2 spot in Inferno Magazine‘s top 10 domestic Metal Albums of the year, and claimed the #13 position in Soundi‘s top 20 domestic albums of the year after receiving a stellar 5/5 review. The album was also nominated for Band of The Year in the Finnish Indie Awards, setting the stage for an exciting year of live shows in 2024.
Hexvessel begins the year by a full tour of Finland opening for metal giants Insomnium and performing in the UK as part of the Celestial Darkness Festival in London. In April Hexvessel is then set to perform two sets at the 013 in Tilburg for the prestigious Roadburn Festival 2024, including a full rendition of “Polar Veil” and a performance of singer Mat McNerney‘s commissioned work, “Music for Gloaming: A Nocturne.”
Hexvessel’s live schedule in 2024 includes:
22/02/2024 – FI Jyväskylä Lutakko*
23/02/2024 – FI Tampere Tullikamarin Pakkahuone*
24/02/2024 – FI Turku Logomon Teatro*
01/03/2024 – FI Joensuu Kerubi*
02/03/2024 – FI Lahti Möysän Musaklubi*
08/03/2024 – FI Helsinki Vanha Ylioppilastalo*
09/03/2024 – FI Seinäjoki Rytmikorjaamo*
(*Supporting Insomnium)
03/03/2024 – UK London Celestial Darkness Festival
18/04/2024 – NL Tilburg Roadburn
19/04/2024 – NL Tilburg Roadburn
21/04/2024 – DE Jena KuBa
22/04/2024 – DE Munich Feierwerk
23/04/2024 – CZ Prague Modra Vopice
24/04/2024 – A Wien Viper Room
25/04/2024 – HU Budapest Instant
27/04/2024 – RO Bucharest Soundart Fest (Quantic Club)
19-22/06/2024 – A House Of The Holy Festival
14-17/08/2024 – UK Bristol Arctangent Festival
07-10/08/2024 – CZ Brutal Assault Festival
28/09/2024 – DE Heidelberg New Evil Music Festival
Reviews:
“Polar Veil is one of those works that completely captures the listener in its mystical vortex” – Soundi, 5/5
“Another atmospheric expansion in the sound cosmos of this exceptional band, who are to be congratulated for a terrific album.” – Rock Hard, 9/10
“Polar Veil feels like a summary of McNerney’s output to date, an album that transports black metal’s hostile chill and the slick, effortless cool of post-punk into Hexvessel’s world of magic, nature, and timeless storytelling” – Echoes & Dust
“An exciting fusion of extreme metal and melancholic rock” – Metal Hammer
“A listening pleasure” – Legacy, #11 Soundcheck, 12/15
“Unabashed and unashamed heavy metal mysticism” – Consequence of Sound
“A black metal record for people who find themselves willingly lost among its atmospheric paeans to frost-covered landscapes” – Distorted Sound Mag
“Irresistibly captivating” – Ghost Cult
“Undeniably evocative” – Prog Magazine, 9/10
“An album that you should not let pass you by.” – Power Metal, 9/10
“Hexvessel have borrowed the nihilistic mood and intensity from Black Metal but made their very own thing out of it with hints of prog, doom, and gothic rock.” – OX, 9/10
“The most intense record in the band’s history to date.” – Visions, 9/12
“A masterful, melancholy turn from McNerney across pitch-black waves of haunted psych” – Blabbermouth
“The combination of his wistful croon with a much heavier sound gives Polar Veil a truly unique vibe – not just in Hexvessel’s discography but in black metal as a whole.” – The Quietus
From their inception in 2009, Hexvessel, created by Mat McNerney as what he described as “a free spiritual journey and a musical odyssey with no boundaries”, have captivated audiences and listeners with their evolution. Shamanic shapeshifters, Hexvessel resonates with solitary reflection and themes of personal spiritual transcendence, continuing to reinvent and explore nature mysticism through music. From underground Occult Folk to Psychedelic Rock to their current incarnation as an atmospheric Black Metal band, Hexvessel is a musical enigma.
Hexvessel‘s sixth album “Polar Veil” is a mesmerizing journey into the Sub Arctic North, weaving together elements of Black Metal, Ritual Folk Psychedelia, and Doom Rock. The second LP pressing is available on limited edition transparent turquoise vinyl (300 copies, exclusively via the band and limited 200 copies of transparent violet vinyl, exclusive to Svart Records. Each pressing comes with a large-scale 12-page booklet featuring artwork by Thomas Hooper and a poster showcasing Benjamin König‘s stunning, jaw-dropping cover artwork. There’s also available transparent yellow vinyl and standard issue black vinyl.
