This is one of those albums witch (sic) is really interesting even before you get to the music itself. The album was originally released in 2004 on small label The Fossil Dungeon and has disappeared into obscurity until Agonia cast their spell and resurrected it on both CD and vinyl. The cover should give you a clue as to what it thematically centres on, the Witches Sabbath portrayed in a musical form. In doing so the members of Hexentanz (who are made up from other underground USA outfits such as The Soil Bleeds Black and Psychonaut 75) have utilised some very interesting instruments, plucked straight out the cauldron itself. We are told to listen out for authentic arcane chants, synthetic ritual devices and human bones being played. This reminded me a bit of the work of Psychic TV who have dabbled in the past with Tibetan human thigh bone trumpets in their musicology but listening to Nekrocrafte I instantly found myself in a much darker place.
Michael Ford and Mark Riddick of Hexentanz obviously practice what they preach, Ford having written several grimoires dealing with the rite of the witches Sabbath itself. There was with my download of the album a very interesting document written by the pair giving more illumination about this and I am assuming it is probably contained in the liner notes of the album. I am not going into more information on this myself, apart from to say the music definitely feels like a perfect accompaniment to Walpurgis Night.
Heavy oppressive rumbling leads us in to a passage of devilish violin, summoning to the dance of ‘Midnight Procession,’ the atmosphere is instantly spellbinding here. Bells hit a high timbre, their peel echoing gorgeously as the music takes off on a medieval sounding sombre march, over all too quickly. ‘Mark Of The Witch’ is meditative and trance like as a shimmering sound weaves around demonic rasped chants and low tolling bells. There are echoing background female chants seeping in from the distance and they sound like they have come straight out of Argento’s witchy masterpiece Suspiria. ‘Devil’s Mass’ casts a spell via female vocals and the music literally sparkles with fantastic sound, militant horns beckon and the whole magickal concept melds together with fantastical force. I am reminded a little of Laibach here and can imagine anyone into serious industrial music as well as neo-folk really enjoying this.
Although this is certainly unsettling I would say it was more intriguing than genuinely terrifying. It does not scare me or anything like that, although if it were playing in the right environment it could be pretty damn potent and even powerful stuff. You find yourself completely immersed in the soundscapes and dare I say bewitched by the varied chanting voices. Nekcrocrafte is certainly evocative and you would be hard pushed to name another album quite like it. That said there are times like-minded artists spring to mind, the aforementioned Psychic TV, Arcana, Dead Can Dance, Elend and the darker side of Coil to name a few.
As we explore the realms and discover ‘Bringer Of The Luciferian Flame’ it is easy to close your eyes and fly off to deep dark chasms were the gathering meets in utmost secrecy and demonic manifestations are conjured. The female coral parts on this particular track are absolutely lush and completely entrance. Verdi would no doubt be impressed. We arrive back to the dark tones of the fugal violin, perhaps it is getting light and dawn is approaching by ‘Abjuring The Cross’ but this makes it feel cold as the grave itself. A huge brooding booming noise echoes all around like the dead marching ever closer, but by last track they get their tribute as ‘Dirge To The Deceased’ closes this thoroughly remarkable album.
There is little mor(t)e to say here but if you love things dark and intriguing this is an album that you simply have to experience. Blessed Be!
http://www.hexentanz.us
Pete Woods
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