Häxan – Death of Me (EP)

Self-Released

Release Date: 23.05.25

Running Time: 17:16

Review by Dark Juan

Score: 9/10

Now, it is well known that Dark Juan is a rabid and enthusiastic fan of everything Welsh, having lived there and also once being an active member of the South Wales Metal scene, way back when I was the rhythm guitarist in Doomcrow. It should be said I was a very poor guitarist and most of my stage presence was a priest’s shirt, a black skull mask covered in demonic sigils and having a wireless kit that enabled me to go and terrorise men having an innocent piss in the lavatories, thoroughly discombobulating attractive young ladies in the audience by going and sitting on their knee and staring into their eyes from the distance of about an inch and being kicked out from behind the bar of Crowley’s Rock Bar in Swansea by Beth, the owner. There was also the time we supported a sadly now defunct touring German man called Ferryman, where we had all drawn their name on our arses and set up a co-ordinated moon of the band (and the audience, of course) to “support” them. Obviously, these were beer-fuelled shenanigans and have nothing to do with what I am supposed to be doing, despite the most tenuous of links to Häxan, being as they are a Welsh-based band, if only one-third Welsh, that being vocalist/ guitarist Sam.

I have never met them, probably because they have a much better sense of self-preservation than Dark Juan.

I was quite taken by their superb quality debut album, when I reviewed it for another high quality British zine, apart from the cymbals sounding like someone had recorded them through a fucking Spectrum ZX81and that ‘Living Dead’ is an absolute fucking monster of a song and is still in regular rotation of the Dark Juan Playlist of Doom after FIVE years. Yes, Häxan have finally released a new record and to say Dark Juan is excited about it is like saying that Dark Juan is moderately fond of alcohol. Let us unleash the almighty Platter of Splatter ™, because the girls have kept me waiting far too long for this five-track EP, called “Death of Me” …

It opens with the title track and this time there’s no fucking about, a cymbal flourish and we are in the realms of good time Hard Rock once again. Häxan have easily cornered the market in decent drinking tunes and fucking amazing harmonies. This song boasts a rather splendid chorus that’s fucking LARGE, mates. Thankfully the cymbal sound has been sorted out for this EP too and now sound like someone is twatting them with bits of wood rather than being simulated by a Commodore 64. In fact, Jess Hartley’s (not Welsh) already powerhouse drumming is enhanced by a fucking MASSIVE drum sound that sits pleasingly forward in the mix but doesn’t overpower the rest of the music. Vocalist and guitarist Sam (Welsh) is on top form as well, attacking the vocals with vim and vigour as well as peeling out some magnificent riffage and putting in some serious work from start to finish. She’s imperious on the vocal in ‘Sirens’, stretching herself further than Dark Juan has heard her go before. There’s also a rather delicious solo, all pitch bending and distended harmonics. She still is a touch too high-pitched for Dark Juan’s general taste, but by god she’s a fucking good Hard Rock singer and more than pleasing on the ear otherwise. But then there’s the harmonies. This is where Häxan shine brightest. The voices make Dark Juan’s spine shiver and goosebumps rise on my skin. ‘Thirteenth Hour’ is Häxan’s heaviest song to date – it’s more of a Metal anthem than a Hard Rock number but the harmonies and the chorus are just too fucking colossal to comprehend by mere mortals like Dark Juan.

‘Burn Alive’ is next up and this is where bassist and not Welsh band member Harriet Wadeson gets to shine, where she lays down some heavy-calibre bottom end that is analogous to a creeping artillery barrage, and the chorus once again brings us more amazing harmonising that has reduced Dark Juan to a dribbling, spent mess on the floor. There’s also a couple of knowing nods and winks to Ozzy Osbourne on this tune. Dark Juan likes it when there are links to the classics. It shows that the band he is listening to knows their stuff…

I think it’s safe to say that Dark Juan is enjoying this EP, in a totally non-creepy fashion, of course.

The EP closes with ‘Collide’ and this song sees Häxan angling more towards Metal once again. The tune has a compelling, attention-grabbing heaviness and Sam absolutely opening her throat on the chorus. And there’s a fucking KILLER break and the metaphorical skirts are picked up for the rest of the song and we are suddenly worshipping what Motorhead would have sounded like if they were fronted by a Welsh lass.  Yet again Häxan save the best for last. ‘Collide’ is another massive tune that shows the development and maturity of Häxan as a band and songwriters, from their fabulously engaging but slightly flawed debut album into seasoned and confident performers who are now well able to mix it with the very best the UK scene has to offer. However, it should be pointed out that Häxan are not really a band with a message or an agenda beyond “Here’s some good time tuneage, here's some beer, let’s fucking party!”, although that is frankly refreshing these days, when social interactions can be troublesome to negotiate and there’s always some cunt somewhere trying to ruin the vibes for everyone else. Let us just bask in the uncomplicated excellence of three lasses playing some fucking good Hard Rock music. And a link to Wales.

Cymru am byth!

The Patented Dark Juan Blood Splat Rating System (System Sgorio Gwaed Sblatiwr Juan Tywyll Patent, helo Cymru. Gwel fi yn cigydda dy iaith. Gan ddweud hynny, rydw i filltiroedd ar y blaen i'r mwyafrif o Saeson yn yr ystyr fy mod wedi ceisio dysgu Cymraeg mewn gwirionedd. Dwi'n cael pethau'n anghywir drwy'r amser ond yr ymdrech sy'n cyfri, ydy?) awards Häxan 9/10, because it is a dedicated fan of the band and loves everything they do. A mark was deducted simply because Dark Juan is a massive twat and wanted a whole album.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Death of Me

2. Sirens

3. Thirteenth Hour

4. Burn Alive

5. Collide

LINE-UP:

Sam Bolderson - Vocals and guitar

Harriet Wadeson - Bass guitar

Jess Hartley – Drums

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