Emerging Artist Reviews

Album Review: Hedmark - Self-titled Debut

by The Metalverse

Updated October 14, 2025

Album Review: Hedmark - Self-titled Debut

Hedmark, a new Norwegian solo post black metal project from Gunnar Kjellsby, released their self-titled debut album on October 10th, 2025.

The album begins with Arrive, introducing distant ambient pads, reverbed clean guitar, and groovy drums. Soon, electric guitar and singing are introduced as an atmospheric hard rock sound is introduced, building a sound that is reminiscent of shoegaze with ambient guitar effects, airy vocals and instrumentals, and a sound that draws from black metal while sticking to a more melodic song with clean vocals.

Funeral Speech introduces female singing, and as addictive vocal hooks and bright instrumentals create hypnotic melodies with that distinct spaced-out, lofi-type sound that creates Hedmark's post-black metal and shoegaze influenced sound. Symphonic choirs and guitar chugging back up powerful vocal harmonies creating a blend of upbeat happiness and darker instrumentals. Funeral Speech stood out with infectious vocal melodies that were quite memorable.

I Know You jumps right into action with rapid guitar strumming and slamming double bass drums before introducing male and female vocal harmonies as alternative metal guitar rhythms fill in the soundscape. We love how Hedmark takes the vibe and atmospheric depth of black metal and blends it with shoegaze to create a sound with pop-sensibility while keeping that underground rock/metal edge.

Next is Thaulow, which builds with gentle guitar and lofi vocals before suddenly launching into distorted guitar and speeding blast beats that set a thrashing pace. Harsher vocals follow alongside the rapid tempo and showcasing a more aggressive sound before slowing things down with groovy drums and ambient guitar as male and female vocal harmonies build addictive vocal hooks yet again. Whispered vocals create a sense of anticipation for what's to come as the track builds back into hauntingly catchy singing before layering hard-hitting guitar and distant screams in a grand finale.

The King Rides starts with a softer build-up as gentle guitar and bass lines set the backbone for strong vocals. Hedmark slowly grows the melodies before introducing more instrumentals and a higher energy level into the track. Suddenly, things take a darker turn as distorted heavy vocals join the fray before swiftly immersing the listener back into the intro riff before building back into the catchy vocals from earlier.

Winter Moon wastes no time, introducing with a drum fill and aggressive guitar, setting a dynamic pacing from the very first moment. The song vocals suddenly switch things up, taking a sound that reminded us more of the theatrical vocals of power metal-adjacent genres. Isolated progressive guitar leads are left to shine along ambient choir pads, building intricate instrumental soundscapes that really make this song.

Sleigh brings in dark, clean guitar and rapid drums before launching into crushing guitar leads with a shoegaze flare as fierce vocals tell a winter-tale. Soon layered female choir vocals build a huge sound alongside grooving drum beats before building back into the upbeat guitar lead. Sleigh builds a more dramatic sound than many of the previous tracks, focusing more on eerie melodies and slamming riffs that create a more metal-influenced sound.

Holy continues the upbeat guitar rhythms of the past track as well as furthering symphonic elements with those deeply layered choirs that work to build a grandiose and cinematic sound. Holy builds throughout its runtime, adding more and more vocal layers, forming a massive and, overall, epic sound.

The final song A Wish comes to life with dark pads before bringing in reverbed guitar and melancholy, low singing vocals. Those bright but fuzzy shoegaze guitars launch into action, adding a striking balance of energy and melody as repeated vocals add an almost percussive element. The vocals change, suddenly soaring above the mix and bringing back male and female vocal harmonies. Hedmark uses contrast between more intentionally empty sections and huge sections with tons of intricate layering.

Overall, we are impressed by Hedmark's debut album and are impressed by the solo artists strength in creating evolving, cinematic atmospheres that are matched by multiple hypnotic vocal harmonies–creating a distinct and powerful sound. Drawing from black metal and shoegaze, Hedmark creates something that is his own and feels fresh and interesting.

You can stream Hedmark available everywhere now!