Band: Hekseblad
Album: Kaer Morhen
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Hypnotic Dirge
Released: 19th of April 2024
Introduction:
Hekseblad is a melodic black metal duo hailing from the United States. Formed in 2021 by members Bruxa; vocals and lyrics and Frosk; instrumentals and production, they draw inspiration from the lore of Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher novels.
Hekseblad’s well crafted blend of raw, atmospheric, and melodic black metal tinged with symphonic elements is very reminiscent of second-wave bands such as Emperor and Dissection and is sure to resonate with fans of both.
Editor’s note: Back in April they unleashed their first full length, we are a bit late to the party but this album is more than deserving our attention.
Kaer Morhen
- School of the Wolf
- A Grain of Truth (Nivellen’s Waltz)
- The White Flame
- The Taste of Ash
- Ithlinne’s Prophecy
- Kaer Morhen
- Mastercrafted
- The Fall of the Northern Realms
- Sodden
- Vatt’ghern
The bands first full length album is a worthy entrance into the halls of black metal. This is apparent right from start with the track “School of the Wolf.” Met with sounds of swords, a hellish scream and a searing riff that caught my attention right away. Bruxa’s cold and raw vocals blend beautifully, with Frosks incredibly savage and melodic guitar riffs on this track.
The albums artwork caught my attention as well even before giving the album a listen. It’s gritty, dark fantasy vibes in shades of purple contrasted with the white logo at the top really stood out to me. It’s very befitting of a black metal album.
Skillfully weaving elemants from their influences into a wonderfully dark, and melodic tapestry. Painted with lyrics pulled from the pages of The Witcher, creates a rich and immersive listening experience.
The fantasy themes and concept are initially what drew me to this band in the first place. Having heard that they where Witcher-themed I couldn’t pass up giving them a listen and I surley wasn’t dissapointed in doing so. This coupled with a healthy dose of Emperor and Dissection worship, makes for one hell of a listen.
The Emperor influence is particularly evident in the use of symphonic and atmospheric keyboards, such as on the track “The White Flame” and “A Grain of Truth.” Along with the frozen melodies and furious guitar riffs of “Sodden” and “Vatt’ghern” that successfully envoke feelings of In The Nighside Eclipse.
Dissection‘s impact however can be heard in the melodic guitar structures and folk-inspired elements that feature throughout the album. Especially on “The Taste of Ash”, the instrumental “Ithlinne’s Prophecy” that follows and “Mastercrafted”, my personal favorite off of the album.
Conclusion:
Overall the album is an excellent blend of raw and melodic, traditional and modern. Even with wearing its influences on it’s sleeve the album doesn’t come across as simply an imitation but rather a love letter to the second wave of black metal. It’s sure to find itself right at home with any fan of the earlier entries in the genre. I’m certainly looking forward to hearing what Hekseblad has to offer in the future.
BMZ Score: 9 – Excellent: This is a standout album with superb talent and creativity. It’s impactful, memorable, and likely to be celebrated within the black metal genre.

Support Hekseblad here: https://heksebladusbm.bandcamp.com/album/kaer-morhen
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