HÄXAN – Death of Me

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://haxan.co.uk/

Häxan is a musically explosive trio hailing from South Wales, and there must be something in the water in those parts of the UK as Death of Me delivers an abundance of hooks and thrills that will make you want to revisit the disc again and again. Their debut offering, White Noise (2020), was a robust and interesting output that caught the ear of many hard rock/metal fans and critics, but this upcoming EP of theirs is more focused, sharper-sounding, and to the point in every sense of the word.

All tracks inhabit an unadulterated sense of joy and an infectious devotion to loud and memorable rock that sounds up to date and modern yet inspired in parts by the greats of the past. There is something splendidly unconventional about Häxan and their songwriting skills definitely put a smile on my face, but what truly matters here is that every tune is passionately dispatched and leaves a lasting aftertaste. By the time closing track “Collide” reaches its denouement, you will find yourself pressing the “Repeat” button. The deft chorus of “Thirteenth Hour” and the meaty main riff in “Burn Alive” are worth the price of admission alone.

The guitars lack a bit of crunch and definition at times, and there are instances where the vocals feel a little subdued as opposed to being prominent and upfront in the mix, but these are minor gripes really, and nothing detracts from the fact that this 5-song EP is a real delight and one that bodes extremely well for the future – even more so than their first album did. Bring it on!