Hexvessel - 'Kindred' Album Review

Tracklist:

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

Right off the bat Hexvessel show themselves as out there! Channelling King Crimson, Dead Can Dance along with The Nice. A modern day Jethro Tull.

'Billion Year Old Being', the opening track is a sprawling mish mash of styles, quite mesmeric, psychedelic but not in a kitsch way. Reminds me of Norweigen Wood, not so much the style but the storytelling. Song production on the album is done in a very sympathetic way, bringing the most out of it. It’s almost straight from the sixties. I’m really struggling to describe 'Kindred', I mean I love it; I love its oddness, its nod back through the history of music. It is totally bizarre, unapologetically so. I’m not a musician so I can’t tell you all about song structure or even what instruments are being played (and there are some unusual ones I reckon.

'Sic Luceat Lux', track five is a masterpiece, a whole 1.41 minutes of off kilter glory, never letting the listener settle, keeping you on edge. It’s almost as if your record player needs a new belt. 'Phaedra' in contrast is a very Nick Cave delivery.

The whole album is reminding me of Rick Wakeman, specifically his over the top concept albums, 'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth' for instance. Beautifully done but totally barmy.

Did I mention I love this album, I did didn’t I? I really do, I’ve never heard anything quite like it. I can imagine still being in love with it after repeated listens, and believe me, there will be multiple listens. 'Kindred' is definitely a keeper. It’s one of those albums you never want to end.

Writing this review is hard, all I want to do is listen, to not be distracted. Not many albums can do that, I’m miles away wandering through a mystic forest in my bare feet. I admit it, I paused in the writing of this and lost myself in the music! Especially the penultimate track 'Magical And Damned' which is just glorious.

I want you to go out and buy 'Kindred', you need to trust me on this. Even if you’re not a fan of any of the bands I’ve mentioned you should still buy it, it’s just perfect, it really is. Of course 'Kindred' by Hexvessel gets 5 stars and a home in my favourite albums.