THE BEAST

As true heathens, folk/black metal act  Hexenklad (ft. members of  SIG:AR:TYR, Eclipse Eternal, Pagan Ritual ) summon interconnected energies in their new music video for the first single and title track off their upcoming album  “Heathenheart” , which can be viewed via its premiere on  Bravewords  HERE . 

Releasing around the summer solstice, the time of year that draws people together to celebrate the longest day of the year, the band brings a message that you are not alone, which is also fitting with the global crisis of the past year. The band explains the track further:

“'Heathenheart' is a folk metal anthem. As soon as it started to come together, we knew this had to be the single we released first. It is just so memorable and so poignant and relevant to the times we are all going through. It is a song about being alone, yet all connected. All lone wolves yet all part of a larger pack. About protecting and raising each other up. The song feels like its message. It is uplifting, powerful, memorable, anthemic.”

According to the band, they didn’t go into the writing process for this album with any intention to create a specific sonic experience. It is more an amalgamation of all the varied influences of its members and they didn’t want to constrain where the music took them. Each song on the album has a different meaning, a different feel, a different purpose. Each song should elicit a different response from the listener and make them think. The common thread that binds all these songs together is that they are all intense musically, even the slower songs, and feature heathen lyrics, most of which are very uplifting in meaning, even the darkest of them. 

As a whole  “Heathenheart”  is an intense black metal-influenced folk metal album full of heathen anthems to raise a horn to. The heathen’s heart is full of chaos, creation through destruction, Hagalaz, and this is a journey into it.

“Heathenheart”  is recommended for fans of Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, and Insomnium and will be released on July 23, 2021 via  CDN Records .

Album pre-order available at  https://cdnrecords.com/ shop/hexenklad-heathenheart/  

Track Listing:
1. Heathenheart (5:02)
2. Cold Beauty of Winter (4:52)
3. Huginn and Muninn (4:14)
4. Dark Moon in Capricorn (5:13)
5. Rootbound (4:13)
6. The Raven Returns to the Knoll (4:33)
7. A Thousand Paths to Wisdom (4:26)
8. Olde Gods Awaken (5:53)
9. Beware the Outstretched Hand (5:21)
10. A Forest of Dead Trees (4:32)
11. Upon the Wings of Valkyries (7:03)
12. A Moment of Silence (1:00)
13. We Raise a Horn (4:07)
Album Length: 1:00:36

Album Credits:
Timothy Voldemars Johnston – Vocals, Lyrics
Michael Grund – Guitar. Bass on songs 4, 7, & 9
John Chalmers – Guitar. Bass on song 13
Andrew Chalmers – Drums & Percussion
Clare B. – Keyboards & Orchestrations  
Emmanuel “Audeath” Audet (Black Empire/Winterfog) – Bass on Songs 2, 5, 8, 10, & 11
Matt “Coldcuts” Collacott – Bass on songs 1, 3, & 6
Nick Sauter – (Treats for Addicts) Guitar Solo on song 7
Alex Chalmers – Clarinet on song 13

All songs by Hexenklad
Song 2 written by Jon Kal and Hexenklad  
Lyrics on songs 4 & 8 by Michael Grund
Recorded at Shiver Sound Studios by John Chalmers
Audeath’s Bass recorded at Black Amp Studio
Mixed at BWC Studios by Greg Dawson
Mastered at West West Side Music by Alan Douches
Cover art by Darek Zawiązalec of Black Forest Forge
CD Layout by Robo of Element 6 Custom  lmn6.ca
Photography by Vikki Kay Photography
Canadian Content (MAPL)

Live Band Line Up:
Timothy Voldemars Johnston – Vocals
John Chalmers – Guitar
Steve Bowen – Guitar
Matt “Coldcuts” Collacott – Bass
Andrew Chalmers – Drums