Spotlight on Pagan Music

A weekly feature highlighting the best music from Pagan, Pagan – influenced, and occult artists. You can hear many of these artists on my weekly radio show and podcast, or you can check out the annual “Darker Shade of Pagan” music special available for download online.

HEXENTANZ

Dana Dark of Hexentanz

Band Bio:
Hexentanz, literally “the witches dance,” is a collaborative conception between members of The Soil Bleeds Black and Psychonaut 75, venturing to recognize the traditional Witches Sabbat as a reality in the flesh. The music and expression of Hexentanz encompasses the practice of medieval black magic. Composed with actual period instruments, synthetic ritual devices, human bones, and authentic arcane chants of medieval and modern witch cult practice, Hexentanz is a project standing alone in its exploration of archaic music and magic. The art of Hexentanz is conceived within the living tradition of left hand path practice and maintains sincerity with its elucidation of the medieval Witches Sabbat.

Hexentanz web site.

Song download:
Oh, Blessed Beast (mp3 file)
Page of Hexentanz sound clips.

Video download:
Asmodeus Rise (.zip file)

Reviews:
“Composed of actual medieval period instruments, synthetic ritual devices, human bones, and authentic arcane chants of medieval and modern witch cult practice, the musical expression of Hexentanz encompasses the practice of medieval black magic. Nekrocrafte is an album of ghoulish chanting and primeval tribal rhythms, which form a rich soundscape of dark, neo-medieval folk music. Nekrocrafte is an album of sounds rather than tunes. The musical interpretations of rituals on this album would make a great soundtrack for a gothic horror-flick. This record is recommended only for those who believe in or take part in witchcraft rituals.” – Daily Vault

“Instrumental ’soundscapes’ that are the aural equivalent of a painting; very evocative accompanied on most tracks by spoken word male/female voices that include occultic intoning and chant, sometimes with spooky, operatic female backing vocals.” – Morbid Outlook

“Expect some dark ritual music when playing this cd. The sound is a mixture of electronic textures and acoustic instruments playing medieval inspired melodies. These acoustic sounds are very clearly by the musicians of The Soil Bleeds Black. But, this is in no way a The Soil Bleeds Black album. The music is darker, more haunting and not so typical medieval. You might even call the music by Hexentanz demonic, also due to the dark and frightening voices. The dark soundscapes on this cd are not recommended to play with the lights off or at night. They are scary enough on their own in the day time and with lights on. This is an excellent dark soundtrack, not for the faint hearted.” – Funprox (google cache)

My Two Cents:
Truly eerie soundscapes and chants based on a simple theme. The exploration and re-enactment of the supposed “Satanic” activity of the “witches” that were questioned, tortured, and often killed by inquisitors during the witch trials in early modern Europe. The resulting sonic tapestry is not only haunting but also makes us examine the roots of the witch hysteria that thrived in places like France and Germany. While “the burning times” were never really about the eradication of ancient pagan belief, the results of the trials and killings made the notion of “witchcraft” a powerful one that continued to resonate in civilized Europe and eventually into the modern Pagan Witchraft revivals of the 20th century thanks to the efforts of writers like Margaret Murray.

Further Reading:
Interview with Hexentanz.

Tags: Neopaganism