HEXVESSEL announce new album & release video single

HEXVESSEL unveil the frost-bitten video clip ‘A Dark & Graceful Wilderness‘ as the spectacular first single taken from the forthcoming new album “Nocturne“. The seventh full-length of the enigmatic Finnish black metal shapeshifters has been slated for release on June 13, 2025.

The video ‘A Dark & Graceful Wilderness‘ is now available for immediate publication via the following link: https://youtu.be/-wkjaSsGm6w

HEXVESSEL comment: “This song is a macrocosm of our new ‘Nocturne’ album and it embraces all the elements that are represented throughout”, singer and songwriter Mat “Kvohst” McNerney writes. “It ranges from epic black metal structures that evoke nature’s grand epiphany to the minimal synths as we drone out to the chaos of wild space. All the influences are there from Thorns to Tangerine Dream, Darkthrone to Philip Glass to Dead Can Dance. As an artistic tradition, a ‘Nocturne’ captures the essence of night, a somber veil where nature is the liminal path.”

With their seventh full-length “Nocturne”, HEXVESSEL explore the liminal spaces between light and darkness, nature and solitude on an epic album. The ever evolving and shifting Finnish band has reawakened their treasured roots in folk music and psychedelic rock as they artfully weave acoustic interludes, cosmic synths, and spectral piano into the frost-spun threads on their black metal loom.

“Nocturne” sounds both familiar and fearlessly progressive as echoes of tradition entwine with a fresh reinvention of their characteristic sound. According to singer and songwriter Mat “Kvohst” McNerney, this work has been created to capture the essence of night, a sombre veil where nature is a path between worlds. It is furthermore revolving around spiritual growth, transcendence through darkness, and enlightenment.

The seed of this masterpiece was sown by the performance of a commissioned work at Roadburn Festival 2024 that was originally entitled: “Music for Gloaming: A Nocturne”. With this album, it arrives fully fleshed in recorded form. This opus magnum blends the raw spirit of Quorthon’s black metal with the intricate minimalism of contemporary composers such as Philip Glass, György Ligeti, and Avro Pärt. Its eclectic nature is elevated and underlined by select guest performances, including the vocals of Saara Nevalainen, as well as the avant-garde black metal luminaries Yusaf Vicotnik Parvez (DHG/DØDHEIMSGARD), and ORANSSI PAZUZU’s Juho Vanhanen.

While HEXVESSEL are based in Tampere, Finland, they were founded by English singer & songwriter Kvohst aka Mat McNerney after he moved to the country in 2009. In many ways, HEXVESSEL reflect their founder. The vocalist and songwriter has instigated and been involved in various bands ranging from UK black metal act CODE, a stint in Norwegian legends DØDHEIMSGARD, and to rock shooting stars BEASTMILK – later ‘continued’ with GRAVE PLEASURES to name but a few of his success stories.

If there is a constant element in McNerney’s work, it is a permanent evolution and ever-lasting search for new forms of expression and artistic development. This also applies to HEXVESSEL – as the band shifted from using more folkish and psychedelic elements to their current incarnation as an atmospheric black metal outfit over the course of time. True to their nature as a musical enigma, none of that was ever exclusive but elements of the above as well as post-punk and other stylistic references have been there before and remain present.

HEXVESSEL continue their free spiritual journey as shamanic shapeshifters. Their music resonates with solitary reflection and themes of personal spiritual transcendence, while staying open to reinvent and explore nature mysticism through sonic means.

With “Nocturne”, HEXVESSEL invite all souls on earth to a transcendental night ritual that is imbued with DARKTHRONE, TANGERINE DREAM, Philip Glass, and sounds unearthed from the dead past, now instilled with new life.

Album title: Nocturne
Release date: June 13, 2025
Style: Black Metal
Label: Prophecy Productions
Review Impact Date: May 12, 2025

Line-up
Mat Kvohst McNerney – vocals, guitar
Kimmo Helén – piano, keys, strings, guitar
Jukka Rämänen – drums, percussion
Ville Hakonen – bass

Guest musicians
Aleksi Kiiskilä – lead guitars
Saara Nevalainen – vocals
Yusaf Vicotnik Parvez – lead vocals on ‘Unworld’
Juho Vanhanen – backing screams on ‘Phoebus’

Produced by Mat McNerney & Jaime Gomez Arellano
Recorded by Mat Mcnerney & Jaime Gomez Arellano at Pine Hill Studio, Akaa (FI)
Mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios, Porto (PT)
Mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios, Porto (PT)

Artwork by Benjamin König
Layout by Mat McNerney & Jari Laurén

Available formats
“Nocturne” is available as a 2CD 36-page artbook, on Digipak CD, as a Gatefold black vinyl 2LP, as a Gatefold Arctic pearl vinyl 2LP, and as a Gatefold marbled black & white vinyl 2LP (only in ltd. bundle incl. artbook & other items).

Links
https://hexvessel.com
www.facebook.com/hexvessel
www.instagram.com/hexvesselband

Live
25-27 JUL 2025 Blackfeet Nation, MT (US) Fire in the Mountains Festival
30 JUL – 02 AUG 2025 Bergen (NO) Beyond the Gates Festival
14-16 AUG 2025 Francavilla al Mare (IT) Frantic Fest