It’s time for Hexed to shine again.
Formed in 2015 in Sweden, the band has already given us a debut independent album in 2018. In 2022, the band consisting of Tina Gunnarsson (vocals, Detained), Stellan Gunnarsson (guitar/vocals, Fuel for Nightmares), Daniel Håkansson (bass), David Nyman (guitar) and Patrick Wahlberg (drums) signed to ViciSolum Productions and announced the release of Pagans Rising, their second album.
Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze, Dance of the Mourning Child, Echoterra…) also participates on keyboards.
The album begins with the already very energetic Pagans Rising, the eponymous composition, which introduces us to a powerful voice perfectly combined with the epic rhythmic. Keyboards and orchestrations give these massive riffs joined by saturated choirs another dimension. The vocal duo which wonderfully completes each other drives us to Resurrection, an impressive track which lets melodies guide us in this rich and catchy universe which will sometimes become darker just like the mysterious Stigma Diaboli which offers mystical choirs as well as martial sounds. The vocal parts create a sublime contrast with the heavier elements, then the sound softens again with the melodious introduction of Repentance. The rhythmic and screams quickly come back to accompany lead vocals, fueling the epic and incredibly catchy rage which is topped by heady leads, then the dark tones resurface on Incantation and its soothing keyboards. The harmonics will follow this trend while the rhythmic remains solid and heavy, allowing the vocalist to reveal all her mastery before Prophecy comes to play with mysterious sounds again, while letting screams punctuate the rhythmic. The track represents the perfect balance between aggressiveness and majestic sounds, coupling effective patterns with a rather low tuning as well as Prog elements, then Symphony of Tragedy becomes much more oppressive especially with this dark introduction. The rest of the track will also follow this impression, skillfully mixing an intense voice with cold riffs as well as the massive Blasphemy which obviously offers a darker sound. The guitarist’s voice is also more present, reviving this complementary duet before Dark Storm comes to bewitch us in its effective and mysterious groove. However, the song passes rather quickly, and it will give way to the heady Moorfield, the last composition which combines dissonant leads, airy keyboards and of course this expressive voice to close the album.
In four years, Hexed growed a lot. Pagans Rising is an intense album from beginning to end, which skillfully juggles between the different atmospheres while leaving a ground of expression to vocals, guitars and keyboards on a solid rhythmic in all circumstances.
90/100