Despite the Scandinavian-sounding name, Häxär does not hail from the Norwegian fjords but from the Swiss Alps. It is the one-man project of Valentin Schwarz, also known as V. Noir, whom we also know from Ernte, a band that released an album on Vendetta last year. Now, on October 31st, he returns via Purity Through Fire with his new album Teufelskult.
While last year’s Ich Bin die Schwärze still came across as something of a standard Black Metal release, Teufelskult begins to paint a much clearer picture of the direction V. Noir intends to take. Production-wise, this new record is a strong improvement as well: a raw Black Metal sound driven by razor-sharp guitars, a pounding rhythm section, and the piercing screams of Mr. Schwarz himself.
Another notable shift is the absence of cover songs, which somewhat oddly appeared on the previous album. Covers can be fun as extras or B-sides, but in this context they felt unnecessary — and personally, I can do without them altogether. One might suggest that Teufelskult represents a stronger sense of confidence in his own songwriting, and in many ways, that point holds true.
This album feels like a significant step forward, and if Häxär continues down this relentless path, we can certainly expect some impressive and memorable creations from him in the future. His main influences are clearly rooted in the second wave of Black Metal — the coldness, the raw riffing, and the uncompromising atmosphere are all present here. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that; on the contrary, Häxär not only honors these foundations but also adds his own distinctive touch. That personal twist ensures that his work isn’t just a nostalgic echo of the past, but rather a vivid, contemporary interpretation of a genre that still evolves.
Standout tracks include the heavier Bastardis and the slow, almost epic Prozession der Wölfe, which even opens with a snippet of the classic Lili Marleen by Lale Andersen.
With Teufelskult, Häxär has delivered a solid album that clearly shows musical progress, leaving us to wonder with anticipation how this evolution will manifest itself in the years to come.
80/100
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