‘The Chosen Path’ by Henere
‘The Chosen Path’ by Henere
I have this penchant for bands that sing about scary storms. Houle is a great time for maritime natural disasters, or you have death metal darligings Frozen Soul which amounts to, “Snow can kill you.” New Jersey's Henere delivers something remarkable in this niche territory of metal bands exploring the power and terror of nature’s forces. The Chosen Path is an eight-track odyssey that acts as a testament to what American black metal can achieve when it embraces melody without sacrificing ferocity.
In the often insular world of USBM, where rawness and nihilism frequently reign supreme, Henere carves out some distinctive territory. The band plays a very aggressive and melodic form of black metal focusing on, “channeling the raw intensity of nature's storms.” Where many American black metal acts lean into lo-fi production and deliberately alienating atmospheres, Henere opts for a clarity that serves their vision. This vision is one where the frozen wilderness becomes a crucible for transformation rather than mere desolation.
The album opener, "Incantation of Ice and Steel," establishes Henere's commitment to the epic. Battle horns announce your arrival into a realm where Nordic mythology meets American grit. “Winds of Eldritch North" showcases the band's understanding of dynamics. Frostbitten screams cut through layers of icy keyboards while the guitar work alternates between blizzard-like tremolo passages and surprisingly groovy mid-tempo sections. The production (mixed and mastered by No Ground Noise) creates space for both atmospheric grandeur and the crushing weight of black metal. This isn't the tremolo-picked blur of traditional black metal, but something more architecturally complex and melodic.
In fact, Henere’s emphasis on groove throughout the album is an element of The Chosen Path I adore. It captures enough knuckle-dragger energy that it wouldn't feel out of place in a workout playlist. These groovy breakdown moments shows that Henere understands what makes an artist like Frozen Soul work around this theme: it’s ok for metal to be catchy and fun.
The middle section of the album, particularly "Spectres of Glacier Tombs" through "Riders of the Winter Sky," demonstrates Henere's mastery of melodic black metal. "Call of Valkyries" employs bass work to create moments of triumph. "Riders of the Winter Sky" effectively captures a galloping sensation that feels like a victory over the harsh power of storms rather than defeat.
"Heart of the Maelstrom" is where Henere's vision of channeling nature's storms reaches its apex. The interplay between harsh vocals and soaring passages creates a tension that feels earned. When the breakdown hits, it's the kind of moment that makes you understand why this music works so well in the gym. The closing "Oath of the Chosen" feels like a statement of intent, not just for this album but for Henere's place in the American black metal landscape. Where so many USBM acts content themselves with recreating Norwegian templates or wallowing in misanthropy, Henere offers something more constructive. The track builds to a moving climax, complete with horn sections, yet never loses the edge that makes this uncompromising black metal.
What sets The Chosen Path apart in the USBM scene is its refusal to see melody and aggression as opposing forces. Following their previous release Frozen Veil of the North, this album shows how Henere is fully realizing their vision. This is black metal for those who see winter not as death but as preparation for renewal, who understand that isolation can be a forge rather than a prison. The Chosen Path doesn't ask you to abandon hope at the gate. It asks you to carry it through the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.
