Style: Symphonic Metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Epica, Within Temptation, Nightwish
Review by: Mark
Country: Sweden
Release date: September 30, 2022
I’ve only been with The Subway for a relatively short amount of time so I’m surprised to find myself with another symphonic metal album on my plate. I’ve never been huge on the sub-genre as often it’s one that adheres pretty relentlessly to its tropes and can sometimes feel a little bit synthetic in its grandeur. Don’t get me wrong; when it’s good, it’s great. Legends such as Nightwish, Epica, and Rhapsody convey a powerfully energized feeling of majesty like few other forms of music can, and there is wonderful depth to the compositions considering the amount of layers usually present. But when it comes to the lower tiers of sub-genre as a whole, it’s remarkable how many bands feel shallow considering the scale of the music they’re going for.
Pagans Rising is today’s regal feast from Sweden’s Hexed and I am glad to report that this is one for the more lactose intolerant amongst you. Compared to the aforementioned Nightwish, the more operatic leanings of the genre are almost non-existent here and instead what we have is a reasonably well-executed, albeit fairly standard, metal album built on a solid bed of symphonic layering. All of the instruments serve their purpose, with no performances coming across as flashy or conspicuous, and it’s all blended well with the orchestral samples which operate more as a backdrop to the “metal” side of symphonic metal here. Songs are boilerplate in their structure with little passing the 5 minute mark, and everything is as expected with headbanging verses, catchy choruses, and the occasional guitar solo or two.
Hexed has one trick up their sleeve and that is their vocalist Tina Gunnarsson. The literal first few seconds of the album via the titular “Pagans Rising” showcase her incredibly powerful and gritty voice as it effortlessly carries the feelings that this genre is meant to have; heavy and epic. Every track is elevated a notch by her delivery and she is by far the standout feature of Pagans Rising. Truth be told, her singing is probably the only thing that would cause me to return to this record and I’m unsure why the band felt the need to split her duties with guitarist Stellan Gunnarsson who provides fairly unwelcomed growls across the board. Not because he is bad, mind you, it’s just that his style isn’t nearly as effective at imparting those crucial emotions we all want from symphonic metal.
Overall, Pagans Rising is definitely an album I would recommend to those that find Dark Passion Play or Dawn of Victory just a little bit too silly, and Delain not metal enough. Unfortunately, nothing about this album reads as “progressive” to me so I’m not entirely convinced that tag is suitable, and junkies for that sort of stuff should maybe should look elsewhere. There is the odd rhythm or two, but besides that what we have on hand here is compositionally and structurally standard symphonic metal, albeit with excellent vocals and decent production. I’d be curious if Hexed pull anything else out of the hat in their next outing, but I won’t hold my breath.
Recommended tracks: Pagans Rising, Repentance, Prophecy
You may also like: Empress, Everdawn, Atomic Symphony
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Vicisolum Records – Bandcamp | Instagram
Hexed is:
– Tina Gunnarsson (vocals)
– Stellan Gunnarsson (guitars, vocals)
– Daniel Håkansson (bass)
– David Nyman (guitars)
– Patrick Wahlberg (drums)
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