Hail Conjuror/Abyss & Ekstasis/Into Endless Chaos Records/Crypt of the Wizard/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Hail  Conjuror  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  crude  and  experimental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Abyss  &  Ekstasis"  which  will  be  released  in  September  as  a  joint  effort  between  Into  Endless  Chaos  Records  and  Crypt  of  the  Wizard.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  The  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  deeper  growls   which  add  in  a touch  of  the  first  wave  era  while  clear  singing  and  spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  darker  style  when  they  are  utilized,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  existentials  of  flesh,  abyssal being,  unknown, nocturnal  rapture  and  lust,  illusions  and  myths  of  sin  and  the  profane.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hail  Conjuror  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ecstasy  Of  Flesh"  and  "Golden  Pages  Of  Contempt".  8  out  of  10.

  https://hailconjurer.bandcamp.com/

           

Hail Conjurer/Absolute Key/Trident And Vision/Signal Rex/2023 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Finland's  Hail  Conjurer  and  Absolute  Key  called  "Trident  And  Vision"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Signal  Rex  which  also  shows  the  2  projects  collaborating  on  a  few  tracks  together  and  also  a  solo  track  from  each  project.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  underground  industrial  touches  and  elements  of  harsh  noise.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  heavier  guitars  also  mix  in  with  the  more  experimental  side  of  the  music  at  times  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  programmed  beats.

  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  some  psychedelic  touches.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  each  song  sounds  different  from  each  other.    

  Hail  Conjurer  and  Absolute  Key  tea,  up  together  and  mix  their  2  different  styles  together  to  create  a  very  experimental  sounding  black  metal  album  that  stays  away  from t he  traditional  rules  of  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  from  Hail  Conjurer  and  Absolute  Key  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eyes  Torn  Open"  and  "Molten  Iris".  8  out  of  10.

  signalrex.com // signalrex.bandcamp.com 

    

Hail Conjurer Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the musical project since the recording of the new full length?

- I recorded the album in January 2022 and since that two demo tapes - Anti-Dualist recorded in January 2022 and Lunar Action recorded in 2021 - were released (in March). I also recorded some new Hail Conjurer stuff this summer, to be announced and released later. 

2. In September you also have a new full length coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

- All the albums differ form each other and this is not an exception. Compared to some of the other albums, Earth Penetration is a bit more synth-oriented. From my perspective it's closer to Carnal Light (2020 album) and Disrobed for the Devil (a song on split with Absolute Key) than the other releases. 

3. You are also involved with a few other bands and musical projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Hail Conjurer' that you are not able to do with your other groups?

- Hail Conjurer is the most personal of all the musical entities I've worked with, so I could say it's not necessarily about the musical content that I'm able to do with Hail Conjurer as much as the way of doing things. With HC I can explore the musical spheres in a way that is not possible when there is inter-personal communication involved and required.

4.You also have experience working with other metal genres, do you feel this has been very helpful when it comes to being a musician?

- I don't feel I'm a musician anyway, at least when it comes to terms of playing musical instruments. Creating art is the main thing and musical instruments are just, well, instruments for doing that. Thus the result can be quite crude sometimes. And it is not just other metal genres or other music genres that can serve as inspiration or starting point for musical pieces I work with. Other forms of art or reality can do that as well. So all the experience I have "helps" in a way.

5.Some of your lyrics cover Occultism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

- I'd rather answer to more straight-forward questions. "A little bit more" is just too vague and pointless.

6.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored over the years with your music?

- Well, the lyrical approach is most of the times less essential than the non-lyrical sides, even when it comes to actual lyrics. I tend to work outside the language and even with the lyrics there are usually a lot of non-lyrical aspects I try to dig into. The main motivation is to surpass the dualist limitations and reach the being as a whole. On Earth Penetration I continue exploring the concepts of sin and carnal will and how they manifest in the world. 

7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Hail Conjurer'?

- Hagal

8.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

- The artwork is done by me, based on the photography of Timo Ketola. You can find some of the themes of the album presented on it.

9.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience playing with full bands, do you feel you are able to accomplish more musically working solo?

- I'm referring to answer to Q.3. 

10.Since 2017 you have released a good amount of released with this project, do you spend most of your time writing and creating music?

- More or less.

11.What are some of the best shows that you have done with this project and also how would you describe your stage performance?

- Not the best but the first one in July 2017 was a special one as it wasn't sure at all that I'd be doing live shows with Hail Conjurer at all, due to fact that it's just me. I play the gigs just by myself too, so I have to use the backing track I've recorded. But it is still me playing on the backing track as well, with drums and all. The last gig I played was in Copenhagen this summer and it turned out to be of a special kind, by accident. I had major technical problems with guitar gear and instead of stopping the gig I played drums in a very primitive manner while doing vocals. It was chaotic for sure. 

12.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

- There is only one confirmed gig ahead at the moment. I'll do a collaborational show with Metsäkirkko at Blow Up Festival Opening Ceremony in October at Suomenlinna sea fortress in Helsinki. The gig is an adaptation of collaboration we had on "Maailmansyöjä" album. I'll do more Hail Conjurer shows when I get offered interesting ones.

13.You also have been a part of a few splits over the years, can you tell us a little bit more about the bands or musical projects that you have shared these recordings with?

- Just two splits: one with Ceremonial Torture and another one with Absolute Key. Bot of them Finnish one man acts. Ceremonial Torture plays dark mythical black metal inspired by the hellenic bm and Absolute Key wanders in realms of electronic music. "Maailmansyöjä" wasn't a split release but a collaborational album I did with Finnish ritual ambient duo Metsäkirkko.

14.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black metal?

- Like with the older music as well, some people like, some don't.

15.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

- I keep on feeding the flame.

16.What are some of the bands or musical styles that you are currently listening to nowadays?

- I tend to listen to old favourites a lot. Recently it's been mostly Beherit, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Necromantia, Amebix and Vesa-Matti Loiri (RIP).

17.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

- Thanks for your interest.

facebook.com/hailconjurer

Hail Conjurer/Earth Penetration/Signal Rex/Bestial Burst/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Hail  Conjurer  are  a  solo  project  form  Finland  that  plays  a  very  old  school,  ritualistic  and  synth  orientated  form  of  black  metal  with  touches  of  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "Earth  Penetration"  which  will  be  released  in  September  as  a  joint  effort  between  Signal  Rex  and  Bestial  Burst.

  A  very  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  starts  off  the  album  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  synths  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  ritualistic  sounding  along  with  the  bass  guitars  also taking  over  the  role  of  a  lead  instrument  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental, when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  as  the  album  progresses  you  can  also  hear  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  Hail  Conjurer  plays  a  style  of  black  emtal t hat  is  very  slow,  ritualistic,  synth  orientated  as  well  as  using  a  lead  bass  guitar  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hail  Conjurer  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school,  ritualistic  and  synth  orientated  black  metal  solo  project  with  some  touches  of  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Sun  And  The  Sweat"  "Come  Alive"  and  "Earth  Penetration".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/hailconjurer