Häxenzijrkell – Portal (Atmospheric Dungeon Metal)

 

It’s been four years since me and my good friends (in spirit) in Häxenzijrkell traded words. Last time around I tossed out a pleasant 4.5/5 for Die Nachseite, referring to it as “Halloween black metal.” This does not apply this time around and I need to be more serious. Showing a surprising ability to transform their style in new ways, yet keeping it within their chosen genre proper in the world of GBM, new full-length Portal reveals a much different approach, being more clear in the frosty riffs and with a delivery that delves below dungeon synth into synth of the abyss. You probably aren’t ready for it.

   

So different is this I thought it was an entirely different band, but it’s hard to forget a name like Häxenzijrkell and it rang of a distant memory. Lo and behold it was. But how memories change! in Portal we see the band requiring more patience out of the listener. Though there are moments cutting like a supernatural blade through a swirling void, with its lengthy, slow-build moments, this album contains far more atmosphere than previous releases. Häxenzijrkell move the listener within their particularly gloomy space with moments that reduce to spoken word segments and heavy keyboard elements developed over five tracks, much like five acts of a theater production, keeping the listener on their toes until they bleed. I’ve said it a number of times, but the hallmark of a good band is the ability to evolve, and Häxenzijrkell have done it, yet again, with Portal, hopefully leading us into even more wondrous spaces in the future.

 

Häxenzijrkell Official Facebook

Häxenzijrkell – Portal
Amor Fati Productions
Cover Art: Patrick Zöller (Karmazid)
4.7 / 5