Origin: Helsinki, Finland  
Genres: Eclectic Metal
Page online: June 7, 2024
Last update/review: June 7, 2024

Hexvessel

For much of their career, Hexvessel has been one of those non-metal/metal-adjacent bands, mentioned in metal circles due either to member affiliations or vague psuedo-metal stylings (and both of those are present here). At their hardest, their acoustic dark folk wanders into occult territory and might remind one of bands like Jess And The Ancient Ones. On their most recent effort (2023's Polar Veil), there's a slight shift, the introduction of icy black metal guitars interwoven with their previous folkisms, which is alternatingly incongruous and yet also intriguing. Whether this is a one-off detour or a move toward a different style, remains to be seen. The BNR pick for best album is 2016's When We Are Death, where the aforementioned occult hard rock influence seems the strongest.

Current Members

Mathew McNerney

vocals/guitars (ex-Code, ex-Dødheimsgard, The Deathtrip)

Ville Hakonen

bass

Kimmo Helén

keyboards/backing vocals/trumpet

Jukka Rämänen

drums (Atomikylä, Dark Buddha Rising, Waste Of Space Orchestra)

Former Members/Guests

Marja Konttinen

vocals/percussion

Andy McIvor

guitars (Code)

Simo Kuosmanen

lead guitar (ex-Dark Buddha Rising)

Vesa Ajomo

guitars (Atomikylä, Dark Buddha Rising)

Jesse Heikkinen

guitars (The Abbey)

Niini Rossi

bass

Jussi Saarivuori

keyboards (ex-Dark Buddha Rising, Waste Of Space Orchestra)

Jaakko Niemelä (guest)

keyboards

Jaime Gomez Arellano (guest)

drums/keyboards (ex-Mirror)

Anti Haapapuro

percussion

Daniel Pioro (guest)

violin

Dirk Campbell (guest)

flute



Discography



Dawnbearer  
2011 Svart
  1. Invocation Summoning
  2. Heart of the Mind World
  3. Scarlet Cassocks
  4. The Death Knell Tolls
  5. A Cabalist Under the Gallows
  6. I Am the Ritual
  7. Radiant Transcendent
  8. Wayward Confessor
  9. Diamonds (Paul Simon cover)
  10. A Stranger's Grave
  11. Conversations with Rosa
  12. The Tunnel at the End of the Light
  13. Solomon's Song
  14. Wychwood Shrine
  15. Oracle of the Starlit Dawn
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Andy McIvor
  • Jaime Gomez Arellano



No Holier Temple  
2012 Svart
  1. Heaven and Earth Magic
  2. Woods to Conjure
  3. Wilderness Is!
  4. A Letter in Birch Bark
  5. Elegy to Goyahkla
  6. His Portal Tomb
  7. Are You Coniferous?
  8. Sacred Marriage
  9. Dues to the Dolmen
  10. Unseen Sun
  11. Your Head Is Reeling (Ultimate Spinach cover)
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Marja Konttinen
  • Simo Kuosmanen
  • Vesa Ajomo
  • Niini Rossi
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jussi Saarivuori
  • Jukka Rämänen



Iron Marsh  EP
2013
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Marja Konttinen
  • Simo Kuosmanen
  • Vesa Ajomo
  • Niini Rossi
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jukka Rämänen



When We Are Death  
2016 Century Media
  1. Transparent Eyeball
  2. Earth over Us
  3. Cosmic Truth
  4. When I'm Dead
  5. Mirror Boy
  6. Drugged Up on the Universe
  7. Teeth of the Mountain
  8. Green Gold
  9. Mushroom Spirit Doors
  10. Hunter's Prayer
  11. Shaman You
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Marja Konttinen
  • Simo Kuosmanen
  • Niini Rossi
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jukka Rämänen



Unfurled  COMPILATION
2016



All Tree  
2019 Century Media
  1. Blessing
  2. Son of the Sky
  3. Old Tree
  4. Changeling
  5. Ancient Astronaut
  6. Visions of A.O.S.
  7. A Sylvan Sign
  8. Wilderness Spirit
  9. Otherworld Envoy
  10. Birthmark
  11. Journey to Carnac
  12. Liminal Night
  13. Closing Circles
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Marja Konttinen
  • Andy McIvor
  • Jesse Heikkinen
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jukka Rämänen
  • Anti Haapapuro
  • Daniel Pioro
  • Dirk Campbell



Kindred  
2020 Svart
  1. Billion Year Old Being
  2. Demian
  3. Fire of the Mind
  4. Bog Bodies
  5. Sic Luceat Lux
  6. Phaedra
  7. Family
  8. Kindred Moon
  9. Magical and Damned
  10. Joy of Sacrifice
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Marja Konttinen
  • Andy McIvor
  • Jesse Heikkinen
  • Ville Hakonen
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jukka Rämänen
  • Anti Haapapuro



Dawnbearer Live 2021  LIVE
2022 independent
  1. Invocation Summoning
  2. Heart of the Mind World
  3. Scarlett Cassocks
  4. The Death Knell Tolls
  5. A Cabalist Under the Gallows
  6. I Am the Ritual
  7. Radient Transcendent
  8. Wayward Confessor
  9. Diamonds
  10. A Strangers Grave
  11. Conversations with Rosa
  12. The Tunnel at the End of the Light
  13. Solomon's Song
  14. Wychwood Shrine
  15. Oracle of the Starlit Dawn
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Andy McIvor
  • Jesse Heikkinen
  • Ville Hakonen
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jaakko Niemelä
  • Jukka Rämänen



Polar Veil  
2023 Svart
  1. The Tundra Is Awake
  2. Older than the Gods
  3. Listen to the River
  4. A Cabin in Montana
  5. Eternal Meadow
  6. Crepuscular Creatures
  7. Ring
  8. Homeward Polar Spirit
  • Mathew McNerney
  • Ville Hakonen
  • Kimmo Helén
  • Jukka Rämänen




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