Released on: 5th September 2025
Faun are firmly planted in the anachronism of neo-paganism and intricately blend it with the allure of pop music. Often with bombastic returns. As presented on Hex, their twelfth release. Which sees them share threads on the tapestry with Chelsea Wolfe, Swedish duo Pettersson and Fredriksson and Turkish singer Fatma Turgut. With their talents combined Hex is an entrancing oddity in a turbulent sea of noise.
As you might expect from the group, however if you are unfamiliar, the band taps into prehistoric energies that vibrate through the core of being. Hex further channels the wonders of humanity, and the supernatural, with its twelve tracks. These range from powerful ritual movements to enchanting ballads that would put Sirens to shame. And, splendidly so. Hex is a beautiful collection of tracks inspired by Ye Olde Worlde.
The ever elusive They say that hind sight is twenty-twenty; each song is told within the scope of traditional music technology, mostly. There is the appearance of distorted guitars that occasionally shows up. To add grain and a post-modern twist to the more analogue instrumentation. The mix between these elements creates a startling contrast. And when you hear it, you will feel it. The guitars give a depth to the darker compositions. It is fantastic to hear music without an over reliance on the aggressive presuppositions of pop culture. The layers are craftily done; beautiful.
Hex is an otherworldly mix of ancient wisdom and modern sensibilities. A trick that Faun have perfected over their expansive career. As lore the tracks are spell binding and a good amount of research has went into retelling these travelers tales. Honouring the spirit of the olden domain, Hex is a blessing.
8/10
