Raphael Alecto - Hessian Firm

Some unorthodox recommendations for the year’s beginnings

As time marches on inexorably to hit another cyclical benchmark of our calendars, giving way to many forms of celebration and exalted frenzy, we at Hessian Firm will take the…

By Raphael Alecto January 11, 2021Review

Analysis

Some brief thoughts on Brutality and Monstrosity: twin gems from the Floridian underground

When a genre becomes as crowded as metal, the need for rigorous selection inevitably arises as a necessary mechanism to unearth the truly outstanding voices, and in that process certain…

By Raphael Alecto December 29, 2020Analysis

Analysis

Analysis: Graveland – “The Night of Fullmoon”

Graveland was the most high spirited of the many bands who took the pagan warfare theme as its core inspiration. While displaying bombastic pretensions from the beginning and by the…

By Raphael Alecto December 24, 2020Analysis

Label News Podcast

“Hessian Scrum” podcast, first entry: Goatcraft

Hessian Firm has just launched on its youtube channel the first episode of the podcast "Hessain Scrum", dedicated to the discussion of music and related topics with artists directly involved…

By Raphael Alecto December 21, 2020Label News, Podcast

Label News

Asgardsrei – “Dark Fears Behind the Door” up for pre-order

The full-length album "Dark Fears Behind the Door", by Phillipine black metal band Asgardsrei, is now on pre-order at Hessian Firm and will be released on the 29th of December,…

By Raphael Alecto November 30, 2020Label News

Review

Beherit – Bardo Exist (2020)

Legendary underground heroes Beherit return for another dark ambient work that builds on the unique style they presented on “H418ov21.C” and “Electric Doom Synthesis” but tempers it with a vast…

By Raphael Alecto November 16, 2020Review

Analysis

Analysis: Celtic Frost – “Dawn of Meggido”

Celtic Frost are universally recognized as one of the best and most influential extreme metal bands, having achieved in the seminal “To Mega Therion” one of the genre’s primary landmarks…

By Raphael Alecto November 7, 2020Analysis

Review

Anna von Hausswolff – “All Thoughts Fly” (2020)

"All Thoughts Fly" is the latest album by swedish composer Anna von Hausswolff, consisting entirely of instrumental and minimalistic organ soundscapes tending to the ethereal, oneiric and enchanted. Von Hausswolff…

By Raphael Alecto October 14, 2020Review

Analysis Lifestyle

On the purpose of modernism and the place of heavy metal

On his study on aesthetics titled Beauty, English philosopher Roger Scruton outlines the most noble mission for modern art to accomplish, if it does wish to attain greatness: "Moreover, there…

By Raphael Alecto October 5, 2020Analysis, Lifestyle

Analysis

The majestic beauty of Morbid Angel – “Desolate Ways”

In our previous analysis of "The Rack" by Asphyx, we noted that sometimes complexity paradoxically presents itself as elusive simplicity: the ascetic attempt at communicating as much as possible through…

By Raphael Alecto October 1, 2020Analysis