HELLEVAERDER
Fakkeldragers
Void Wanderer Productions

Get ready for a black metal summer, baby! Every year, I dread the arrival of hot weather and the sun’s return from its winter slumber. This is why I try to find a counterbalance to the superficial cheerfulness of summer, to crave misanthropy, depth, and a sonic refuge from the noise of seasonal exuberance.

Now, as a self-proclaimed ‘black metal guy’ I understand how it can be hard and downright frustrating sometimes to navigate the black metal world. There is no other genre where fans have to make the obligatory “is this band full of horrible people with blatant fascist views” search online. Luckily for us, HELLEVAERDER is not one of those bands! They’re just here for the ripping tunes, occult imagery, and to scratch that black metal itch we might not always find in the heat of the year.

THE BAND

Formed in 2017 in Heerhugowaard, HELLEVAERDER has been blending their traditional black metal ethos with thematic concepts for just under a decade. Known for blending chilling melodies with unrelenting aggression, they emerged as a fierce force in the Dutch extreme metal scene. With lyrics often rooted in themes of history, darkness, and Dutch heritage, the band crafts an immersive sound that is both brutal and poetic.

The current lineup features the commanding vocal presence of Miranda Visser, whose voice cuts through the chaos with visceral intensity. On guitars, Bas Cuperus and Arjen Kleiss create a storm of tremolo-picked fury and haunting harmonies. Luuk Steemers anchors the band’s sound with thunderous bass lines, while Daan Bleumink delivers relentless drumming and also contributes additional guitar work, showcasing dynamic versatility.

THE ALBUM

“Fakkeldragers” serves as a continuation of the band’s first album “In de nevel van afgunst”. Unfortunately, I do not speak Dutch and my understanding of the mythology of the band and their thematic concepts comes from their website and what I have read about them. My critique of this album primarily comes from a sonic standpoint, although I am fascinated with the mythos of their story and will do my best to respectfully analyze what they have to say.

The first album offers a story of a ‘guardian of light’ defending the will to live. The continuation, directly from the band’s website, offers this as a precursor to listening:

“Fakkeldragers” (Torchbearers) is a continuation of the tale of the guardian of light; the previous album, ‘In de nevel van afgunst’ (In the mist of envy), told stories about the guardian of light defending the will to live while the worshippers of nothingness defended the need to perish the soul, becoming one with the universe.

In this saga the guardian is captured and dragged into the gates of eternal slavery, a world made from darkness. Light tries to find its way through the tiniest of openings, and the duality remains. After the capture she remains to find the will to live. The light conquers all, she said. But dying means enlightenment. After being dragged away towards the gates of nothingness she remains faithful to life. The will to live conquers the need to die…

The worshippers of nothingness are warriors of the unlight, the eternal stare-off between the everlasting wisdom in the here and now, foretold in 9 stories. You will be dragged down and be held captive. Forced to endure the tales of awakening. A way to deal with everyday life, a duality of wanting to, and needing to.

Death is nothing but a granted right, the whispers of the damned are chanting the echoes; ‘Death is liberating…’

Do not force yourself on these nine chants,
Those chants could redefine the process of life.

So, that’s quite a bit of backstory to go off of. Since black metal is known for it’s over-the-top theatrics and complexity, I wasn’t at all surprised that we have this lore-filled doctrine to follow.

Let’s jump in.

The introductory track, “Een bepantserde kroon”, kicks off the way I want every black metal album to start, with a distorted, minor-key laden riff that explodes into a wall of sound and continues to assault the senses for nearly six-and-a-half minutes.

The following two tracks are killers and keep the momentum sky high. “Krijgers van het niets” gives a demonic energy that is both defiant and structured. The backing choral features of “De laatste dageraad” gives an atmosphere of druidic masses overlaying ontop of dizzying guitar leads.

My favorite track on the album is the emotional and cinematic “Handen geketend in ijzer”. The dissonance and heartache felt in Visser’s shrieks contrasted with the eccentricity of the musicality would make even the most hardened DSBM fan shed a tear or two. Titular track “Fakkeldragers” and the melodic “Schaduwen van satijn” follow this, creating layered and mature landscapes that give a vertiginous feeling to the listener.

Penultimate track “Waar wij vlammen trotseren” does not waste a single second in intensity before the album comes to a close with “In de ban der lusten”, a fitting and devastating end to a challenging, sophisticated, and varied musical roller coaster.

THE VERDICT

Honestly, I am floored. This album did everything it could possibly do to satisfy and leave me wanting more. At just two studio albums, HELLEVAERDER is already inching its way up my pantheon of incredible black metal outfits. I can’t stress how much I suggest this album to anyone who is even remotely interested in black metal. “Fakkeldragers” will be released on Void Wanderer Productions on the 19th of June. Listen to it, and celebrate life.

Matthew McCune