REVIEW: Faun - Hex

The twelfth studio album from German collective Faun is upon us - Hex. Hex is an album with stories to tell from cultures and folklore across Europe and parts of Asia. The term "hex", as you may know, relates primarily to witches and their spells, and comes from the German “hexe”, which this album focuses on - discussing female magic in all forms. Terms such as "hagazussa" have been used by the band before, also meaning “witch”, with a song of the same name released on their previous album Märchen & Mythen in 2019.

Over the years, the band have developed a body of work that encompasses a multitude of modern and archaic elements - in this album alone it covers English, Celtic, Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and even Turkish narratives and ideas. The band consists of four vocalists - Laura Fella doing only vocals, with Oliver Satyr, Stephan Groth, and Adaya playing the moraharpa, hurdy-gurdy, and bagpipes respectively alongside their vocal duties. Niel Mitra is the band’s keyboard player, sampler and synthesiser, whilst Alexander Schulz is on percussion. The breadth of ability and experience of these artists is consistently shown with their polyphonic vocals and complex arrangements.

Hex is brought to life by 'Belladonna', a tune that introduces the abundance of instruments that is expected from Faun. The traditional folk song structure alongside soaring vocals and hard guitar make it the perfect foundation for what’s to follow. The deep earthy sounds of 'Lament' follow, encapsulating the genre with the droning hurdy gurdy and the melodic moraharpa, whilst the piercing bagpipes carry the tune. This track has the power to transport you to other realms, with the repeated hook of “The Gods receive thy soul”.

'Nimue' features the legendary Chelsea Wolfe, and showcases a percussion led, rock ballad-esque mood to contrast itself with what's come before, whilst 'Blot' follows with a swaying, ritualistic beat that's more in keeping with what would tend to be expected of the group. 'Black Eyed Dog' is a cover of the late Nick Drake, originally released in 1986, and then released by Faun as a single earlier this year. Faun’s rendition offers a jaunty upbeat version of the original but still carries the solemn undertones, with the famous lyrics of “I’m growing old and I wanna go home”. Despite the honesty and darkness of the original, they have been able to create a more hopeful version that changes the perspective into something perhaps more soulful.

'Vals' is a multi-tonal and intricate instrumental based on Swedish folklore, featuring guest

musicians Daniel Pettersson and Daniel Fredriksson. Both playing traditional Swedish

instruments including the nyckelharpa, and the duo will also be touring alongside Faun for their upcoming tour. The track 'Umay' was originally released as a single in 2023, and it introduces other influences from Turkish folk song. The track includes the guest singer Fatma Turgut, allowing this track to add a different spin on the album's core sound whilst keeping in with the theme of female healers. Umay Ana, the originator of the song's title, is a fertility goddess who protects young children and animals. Turgut’s vocals are rich and hearty, and paint a beautiful picture throughout. 'Alfar' brings the album to a close with a hearty and fulfilling tune that shouts the true Faun-style genre that we’re familiar with.

At a surface level, this is a great atmospheric album with a variety of catchy beats and genre- defying moments, but on a deeper level there’s a treasure trove of ancient lore to discover, with each song having a backstory and origin, telling you stories of old that span hundreds of years. For those wishing to dig deeper, there’s a plethora of myth and legend to discover rooted in real stories and folklore. Faun successfully fuses the old and the new together with stunning sounds that prove this band lives and breathes the world they have created.

Score: 8/10

Hex will be released on September 5th 2025 via Pagan Folk Records.

Words: Danielle Henderson

Photos: Faun