Pestilent Hex – Sorceries of Sanguine and Shadow

Band: Pestilent Hex
Album: Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow
Label: Debemur Morti Productions
Release date: November 29th, 2024
Country: Finland
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording

Symphonic black metal is one of those music styles that can be a little of a hit-and-miss, including both spectacular releases, as well as less impressive ones to say the least. However, Pestilent Hex has managed to show, once again, that there is potential to be found in symphonic black metal, and that, by involving a strong creative vision and ingenious songwriting, the results can be, astounding, I’d day. This is the case for the band’s latest full-length effort, “Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow”, an epic opus that exudes a contagious grandeur. All the songs are composed in a manner that resembles more that of an orchestral symphony than anything, yet 90% of what you will hear is black metal, extremely powerful black metal. Another thing that caught my eye about this record, is the gorgeous album cover, also made by the band’s Lauri Laaksonen. But, in any case, let’s dive into the music.

The album opens up with “Nocturne”, an intro track comprised out of a short, yet ominous piano composition, which resembles a dark and twisted version of Lundwig van Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”. I found myself being uncharacteristically caught in by this piece, and I couldn’t help but wish it was longer. However, it achieved its purpose in setting the stage for the spectacle about to begin. Being based on a fairly simple chord progression, the song’s melody is mainly created by the use of several patterns that run into one another as the song’s intensity grows ever stronger, in an anticipatory fashion. “Nocturne” also offers a brief view of the band’s songwriting capabilities, with it being noticeably climatic, particularly for an intro track.

“Sciomancy and Sortilege” comes barging in like a fiery storm, with blast beats at the front and soaring guitar riffs, accompanied by faint piano melodies and tasteful touches of synth. The vocal performance is just as dynamic, emitting a sense of power, which is only amplified by the intensity of the instrumental. If “Nocturne” was a teaser for the band’s qualities, well, this song showcases them in all their glory. The contrast between the explosive vocals and the melodic guitar riffs make “Sciomancy and Sortilege” come across as incredibly catchy, effect emphasized by the frequent tempo changes, particularly in the groovy sections of the song. No matter what element you shift your attention to, you are guaranteed to find interest, even in the piano melody coming in and out of focus. I particularly enjoy the chorus of this track, mostly due to its climactic nature in the song structure. Another interesting moment can be observed around the middle of the song, when the melodies do a 180 turn, becoming more ominous and intense, slowing down, before ramping up again.

Following, “Through the Mirrors Beyond” continues the musical direction of its predecessor, although with a stronger emphasis on the eerie, darker sounding elements. It also tunes down the epic, triumphant atmosphere, in favour of a slightly more melancholic and uneasy once. The melodic riffs, however are as present as ever, and, along with the slower pace and almost whispery vocals in several moments, it helps make “Through the Mirrors Beyond” feel borderline esoteric. The symphonic touches are also less pronounced, with the use of piano being fairly minimal, as well as the synth. The main focus of the song itself are the intricate riffs and frequent tempo changes, as long with the mood itself, which is a driving factor of this composition. If you are looking for a more traditional song in Pestilent Hex’s discography, you should definitely give this one a try.

“Of Hexcraft and Laws Three-Fold” comes in with a screech, soon followed by a march like rhythm, infused with claustrophobia and aggression. This is one of the darkest songs on the album, and although it retains most of the trademark aspects of the record, it is a far cry from the epic, thunderous beginning. Everything sounds as if it is falling down a black hole, deeper and deeper into the creative vortex. The slow pacing of the drums for the majority of the track allows for the rest of the music to take center stage, allowing the crushing atmosphere to dominate everything in sight. The vocal performance also includes some low growls here and there, which also add to that sensation. All in all, it is Pestilent Hex at its most tenebrous.

“A Spectral Voyage” brings about a change in terms of atmosphere, putting an emphasis on the more meditative and melancholic elements of the music, while also slowly returning to that epic sound so prevalent in the beginning of the album. Perhaps the best way to describe this song is, of course, the song title. It gives off the same energy as a journey through the aeons, floating through time and space. The vocal performance here is very similar to the one on “Sciomancy and Sortilege”, returning to those epic, high screeches, that bring dynamism and energy to the composition along with the groovy drumming. I would say this is one of the catchiest and easiest to get into songs from “Sorceries of Sanguine and Shadow”, because it offers the listener a fairly relatable experience. The song is written in such a way that it allows the listener to simply get lost in the music.

Approaching the end of the album, “Thredony of the Moon Ascendant” brings the ascension towards the finale in the front, the song brewing with a strong sense of anticipation. This is particularly obvious in the guitar work and vocals, which mostly remain in the low register, all which creates a feeling of growing pressure and claustrophobia. The guitar riffs are rather dissonant and chaotic, with the drums coming in and out of focus. I would day this is the most tense point in the whole album, with every note being stretched to the maximum, waiting almost for the storm that is to come. As the song progresses, this sensation becomes harder and harder to ignore, further driven by the points when the music stops, leaving the vocals to cut through the silence. By the end of the song, you will find yourself holding your breath.

The album concludes with “Sanguine Gnosis”, where all the tension built up throughout the album finally comes crashing down in the form of this magnum opus, although it may not seem like it at first. Despite the track beginning with a slow, melancholic moment infused with beautiful melodies, and the presence of a gentle acoustic guitar moment, it all starts becoming more and more grandiose, as everything seems to suddenly ascend, the instrumentation going silent, before exploding into what I can only describe as a sonic cathedral. The riffs and vocals soar through the composition, hitting you in the chest with their power. The piano can be once again heard in the background, playing themes from the beginning of the album, bringing everything into unity. I am mesmerized by this song’s nature, to be honest. This is songwriting at its finest. Slowly, the music settles, before ending on a high note.

I believe that everything I’ve stated so far makes my views on this album fairly obvious. Pestilent Hex struck once again. It would be foolish not to see, or better said, hear, for yourself. 9.5/10 by Ioana

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