Helevorn – Espectres

Helevorn
Espectres
Label: Meuse Music Records
Out: 13. September 2024
Playing Time : 45:40

Mallorca and Doom Metal – there was something. Exactly. I recently listened more closely to ‘Spreading The Wings Of Hope’ by Golgotha. And I was thrilled. Now I’m getting to know Helevorn. Founded back in 1999, the band from the island’s capital Palma is dedicated to a very similar style. Four albums have been released so far. However, the release of their last album ‘Aamamata’ was five years ago. As a foretaste of their fifth album ‘Espectres’, the Mallorquins have released two songs as singles in advance.

The opening track ‘Inherit The Stars’ clearly sets the tone. Dark sounds, initially from piano and strings. Shortly afterwards, guitar, drums and bass. Plus angry growls. But Josep Brunet can also sing clearly. ‘The Defiant God’ hardly sounds any less dark, although the tempo picks up a little. And with Sebastià Barceló, a session drummer has been found who has internalised the band’s sound and aligned his playing exactly to it. Well, on ‘Signals’ the Spaniards step up the tempo once again. It still sounds dark but less melancholic. Also thanks to the keyboard carpets and the heavy riffs. Then the two guitarists also fire off a strong solo. Synth strings and clean guitars can be heard at the beginning of ‘When Nothing Shudders’. Even if it gets heavier at times later on, this is a contemplative ballad for longer periods, which is crowned by a guitar solo. Even ‘Unbreakable Silence’ starts ballad-like with clear guitar licks and keyboard carpets. But as soon as the rhythm section kicks in with full force and epic choruses are heard, we hear Epic Doom Metal again. With the well-known alternation of clear vocals and evil growls. The lyrics to ‘L’Endemà’ are written in Catalan, the musicians’ mother tongue. Inés González can be heard as a vocal partner. After a calm introduction with acoustic guitars and synth strings, ‘The Lost Futures’ also trickles viscously out of the speakers. ‘Children Of The Sunrise’ starts quietly with electric piano. And it stays that way. Later, strings underlay the vocals. Another ballad. Later, typical Spanish guitars (Jovan Milosevski) can be heard as a special feature. But here, too, neither the hard riffs nor the angry growls are missing.

It’s always amazing to hear the dark sounds that come from the sunny islands of the Mediterranean. A sound that you would expect to hear from Scandinavian bands. But that’s probably just a cliché. The bottom line is that this is a convincing Doom Metal album. Despite all the melancholy, it never gets boring. The Mallorquins attach great emphasis to variety and use atypical Metal instrumentation here and there.

Helevorn – Inherit the Stars: https://youtu.be/z8vN-c776vg?si=rPeiNUX_bV4yu3xF

Lineup:

Josep Brunet -. Vocals
Sandro Vizcaíno – Guitars
Álex Correa – Guitars
Jose Rubi “J.M.” Rubio – Bass
Pedro Sánchez Bonnín – Piano, Keyboards
Sebastià Barceló – Session Drummer

Titelliste:

• Inherit The Stars
• The Defiant God
• Signals
• When Nothing Shudders
• Unbreakable Silence
• L’Endemà
• The Lost Futures
• Children Of The Sunrise