Avant-garde metal is a stupid concept. As a genre denominator, it is much too ethereal to genuinely grasp at the substance of what it supposedly being performed; not to mention the fact that it’s brazenly condescending towards other, ‘lesser’ forms of metal. That being said, though, there doesn’t seem to be a better way to describe Ærkenbrand. Their left-field approach to jazz-infused black metal with folk melodies and dramatic vocals is too far out there, too confidently outré to pass as anything less than a new evolutionary step on the many-runged ladder of heavy metal’s already lofty set of sub-sub-subgenres.
My closest approximation as far as similar acts goes would be to describe this trio of daredevils as the result of locking Ephel Duath, King Diamond, Norwegian Shining, and Leprous in a room with a bunch of free jazz and black metal records and waiting for the ensuing jam sessions. Yeah. I’m honestly at a loss for words to accurately describe Hedenfarne Æventyr, and that’s one of the highest compliments I can think of. Ærkenbrand have created a resoundingly, almost staggeringly original sound, and it’s a delightful thing to be allowed unlimited access to their world.
One main ingredient in this witches’ brew of sound and spectacle is the addition of Zeki Jindyl (NARCOSATÁNICOS) on saxophone, EWI, and keyboards alongside the core trio of drummer/vocalist Antonius Lovmand, guitarist Sebastian Mørch, and bassist Andreas Thomsen. Jindyl offers so much in terms of atmosphere, gravitas, and outright creativity that his contributions elevate the already zany concoction of this band to an entirely new level of freakish imagination. Math rock, prog, black metal, jazz, krautrock, afrobeat, minimalism – the color palette Ærkenbrand paint with seems to have no physical limitations, and yet it never sounds like they’re just throwing shit together for the hell of it.
Indeed, cohesion is one of the main tenets of Hedenfarne Æventyr. Despite its broad stylistics and ambitions, the overarching throughline is always apparent. Mørch and his mad genius approach to guitar heroism are given free reign of the album’s steering wheel, while Lovmand on drums dictates the tempo during his very own cursed session of carpool karaoke. His eccentric and versatile delivery makes the songs impossible to predict, whether that be his black metal shrieks or his nigh-operatic clean repertoire. Between these two waypoints, Ærkenbrand allow themselves to roam freely, like a woefully overstimulated kid let loose in a toy shop.
Seven proper tracks plus one interlude is what you’re signing up for when clicking play on this carefully constructed delusion of a record. Don’t expect to encounter any lull or drops in quality, either; it’s all uphill from here, fellow traveller. Starting with “Svampens Rotter (Spiritus)” is an obvious mission statement, as it drops you into the ice-cold waters of Ærkenbrand’s imagination with nary a warning. Tapped guitar, saxophone, and Janus-faced vocals perform an intricate ballet that’s always close to teetering offstage and into the audience, but always keeps its composure enough to not derail its own grandeur. The following interlude barely counts as reprieve such is its tense potential of nervous energy. It’s almost a classical étude – almost.
“Nattens Konge” carries a similar maniacal strain, the guitar constantly picking up momentum alongside the masterfully executed vocals and deceptively simple but richly adorned drumming. What sounds like a distorted sax (likely the EWI?) breaks in partway through, elevating the inner tension of the elements to an atmospheric high. Drones and shrieks then dominate the song’s latter portion. The “Stasis” trilogy is a self-contained cosmos of everything that makes Hedenfarne Æventyr such an enjoyable trip – best not to take too much away before you can dig your ears’ metaphoric teeth into these three songs!
Chaos reigns supreme on “Kødets Opstandelse”, its jazzy intensity only matched by the furious bouts of metal drumming and crazed shrieks. The beats and tempos indeed feel quite indebted to afrobeat, while the math-y guitar lines dance and contort in a gleefully maddening fashion. Jindyl’s saxophone fills the gaps, either crooning smoothly or erupting in true free jazz fashion. Thomsen lays solid, occasionally playful bass lines into these tectonically shifting sections, providing a steadfast element to the otherwise jittery propulsion. Hedenfarne Æventyr ends on the 15-minute pièce d’atmosphère “Alting Sammen”, which provides wildly eruptive climaxes amidst its otherwise reserved demeanor. There’s enough energy here to refuel a dying star (get your minds out of the gutter) – Ærkenbrand have mastered the push-and-pull inherent to their unique concoction.
In a fair world, Ærkenbrand might be considered forebears of a new generation of boundary-pushing rock and metal musicians, placing them at the literal vanguard of progressive music. If not, well, they’re still making a damn enjoyable ruckus, so who cares what the future holds? In the here and now, Hedenfarne Æventyr is a wildly imaginative record full of twist and turns both big and small. Truth be told, I have never heard anything quite like this. Ærkenbrand have uncorked a veritable kaleidoscope of a cornucopia, and I can’t begin to properly convey how inventive and delightful it is. You’d better join the joyride and find out for yourself. See you on the other side!
