Hemelbestormer has
been crafting their own sonic universe for over a decade, blending post-rock,
doomgaze, and black metal into immersive soundscapes. Formed in Hasselt,
Belgium, by musicians with deep roots in the country’s hardcore and metal
scenes, the band has built a reputation for transporting listeners across vast,
emotional, and cosmic landscapes. Over the years, they have appeared on some of
Europe’s most respected festival stages, from Roadburn
to Dunk! to Graspop
Metal Meeting, delivering intense and atmospheric performances that
bridge the crushingly heavy with the ethereal.
“The
Radiant Veil,” the band’s fourth full-length, continues this journey with an
eight-track cycle inspired by the Etruscan civilization’s view of the solar
system. Each composition carries the name of a celestial body in the old
Etruscan language, beginning with the Sun (“Usil”) and ending with Saturn
(“Satre”). Across its nearly 70-minute runtime, the album paints a vivid voyage
through space, using sound to evoke the beauty and the cold vastness of the
cosmos.
The music
unfolds through towering guitar work, deep and resonant bass, and drums that
alternate between restrained pulse and all-out assault. Synthesizers add an
otherworldly texture—sometimes swelling like distant radiation, other times
flickering like the light of far-off stars. Tracks like “Cel” immerse the
listener in alien atmospheres, while “Laran” introduces luminous synth passages
reminiscent of science fiction’s cinematic moments. The opening “Usil” sets a
monumental pace, its seismic riffs and icy leads conjuring stark, expansive
imagery, while “Turms,” featuring Philip Jamieson of
Caspian, blends soaring melodic passages
with heavier surges of intensity.
Hemelbestormer’s
ability to move between massive, earth-shaking heaviness and delicate, almost
fragile ambience keeps the experience engaging from start to finish. The
production gives the instruments breathing space while retaining a dense,
enveloping power. By the time “Satre” draws the album to a close, the listener
has been carried through a full cycle of tension, release, and cosmic wonder.
“The
Radiant Veil” is not just an album—it’s a journey, one that invites listeners
to drift into deep space, tethered only by the gravitational pull of Hemelbestormer’s sound. It’s an absorbing and
meticulously built work that rewards patience and immersion.
Score: 8.3
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