Review Summary: Hexvessel’s second blackened doom dabbling benefits from a greater sense of commitment
Proving that the sudden pivot to blackened folk-doom on 2023’s Polar Veil wasn’t a fluke, Nocturne sees Hexvessel putting the style toward even loftier ambitions. Everything about the album feels more extravagant between the considerably expanded overall length and more ornate instrumentation. It makes for a decidedly more nuanced listen compared to its predecessor, confidently embracing the extreme tropes in a way that better reconciles their rustic psych-folk roots.
In light of this multi-faceted approach, the musicianship adjusts with more thematic playing. Rather than forcing the extreme and melodic elements to constantly mingle in a blurry coexistence, the contrasts are given more of their own segments to be explored ala Opeth or Agalloch. The metal components are considerably emboldened as harsh vocals and blasting drums get to make proper appearances and the riffing is allowed to put an aggressively diabolically character to doom numbers like “Nights Tender Reckoning” and “Unworld.”
On the flip side, the band’s folk side gets about as much definition and its own spaces to breathe. There’s more layers of piano and acoustic guitar this time around, further fleshing out the structures as just about every track seems to include some sort of lighter segment as well as dedicated balladry on a track like “Concealed Deceit.” This also has the effect of helping the vocals feel stronger, still largely opting for a clean delivery throughout but picking up a more storytelling character.
Of course, the satisfaction in an album like this is seeing how these varying elements will end up flowing together. While something like the minute of piano on “Opening” ends up a little redundant when the subsequent introduction to “Sapphire Zephyrs” is perfectly full in itself, I appreciate how that extra sense of scale plays into that track’s largely blackened body. It’s also pretty cool to see how the more linear songs like the ritualistically atmospheric “A Dark & Graceful Wilderness” and “Spirit Masked World” as well as the Alcest-esque brightness of the closing “Phoebus” play into the greater whole.
Overall, Hexvessel’s second blackened doom dabbling benefits from an even greater sense of commitment. It’s a lot to take in between the varying facets and tangential structures running over a near hour total runtime, but the boosted dynamics make for more realized compositions as well as a greater sense of personality. The back half of songs is especially strong, encouraging a slow burn of repeated listens. Polar Veil’s novelty could be prone to fading, but Nocturne plays like a fulfilled invitation for more. The only thing missing is a little dungeon synth.
