Doomed Confessionary: Migjel, Terence & Tonny (Hraefn)

Founded in 2021, Belgian outfit Hraefn are a compelling metal trio, covering a lot of ground: influenced by heavy, stoner, as well as doom metal, they express themselves in a unique music style. Call it psychedelic doom n’ roll, if you will. Think purified and iconic riffs with some progressive tendencies, matched with eerie and emotive vocals to create pieces that sound like fever dreams, psychotic episodes, prayers of the damned. But what makes the borderline heavy/doom metal of Hraefn really stand out, is the level of musicality and the collar-grabbing quality of their work.

Hraefn’s second EP »Research Into Infinity« will be released this Friday, November 15th, 2024. It features Terence “Doom Foot” Gevaert (Carneia, Her Fault) on the drums, who joined the band late 2023 and adds some extra firepower to the trio. This new release showcases some more southern/stoner influences in Michael Sremos’ (Witch Which?, Heavy Fox) heavy metal guitar playing, which really fits Tonny van Bavel’s (Staat van Genade) clean but fierce vocals and squirming bass playing. There’s a lot to unpack in this 3-song EP, but the surprises are discomfortingly pleasant.

Can you say a few words about your band?
Migjel: Yeah. Sure.

Terence: I get a lot of freedom from the lads so I can add organics to the music.

Tonny: We have a drummer on the bass, a bass player on the guitar and a drummer using an empty 1st World War bomb shell as a cowbell: how is this not gonna work?

What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Migjel: Finding a new drummer.

Terence: Fine-tuning our 3 egos.

Tonny: Finding a decent replacement for our drummer Tom who had to quit for health reasons. But now we’re good now thanks to Terence!

What can you be most proud of so far?
Migjel: That we could continue Hraefn.

Terence: My family.

Tonny: Our new EP »Research Into Infinity« is incredible as far as I’m concerned.

What was your biggest regret?
Migjel: No regrets. It is what it is.

Terence: I missed out on Body Void in Brussels.

Tonny: Regrets are a waste of time.

What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Migjel: I saw Kyuss, Monster Magnet and Soundgarden in 1994 at the Pukkelpop-festival playing on the same stage after each other.

Terence: Zach Hill at Petrol in Antwerp. It started with 300 people, 2 mins further I was there alone with two friends and a couple.

Tonny: For us, after only a handful of shows, the best is yet to come, now that we are back on track with Terence behind the drums.

What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Migjel: That all kinds of metal are still alive in 2024.

Terence: yeah, metal ain’t dead.

Tonny: I don’t know, but music saves lives – it has definitely saved mine.

What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Migjel: All kinds of shit.

Terence: Castle Rat, Candiria, Thantifaxath.

Tonny: Apart from some slowcore like Low and some Americana, a lot of Chelsea Wolfe at the moment (I went to a concert of hers just the other day)

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Migjel: Quit, but I didn’t listen.

Terence: I don’t take advice from outsiders.

Tonny: Don’t be a musician, you’ll end up addicted and poor.

What are your guilty pleasures?
Migjel: Blondes with big tits, also to be found in my browser history.

Terence: Things that smell funny.

Tonny: Hraefn, some fine herbs and Belgian Triple Beer.

Can you say something more about current music scene in Antwerp / Belgium?
Migjel: Antwerp has Desertfest and Metalfest and some great bands in the scene.

Terence: We have Ieperfest and Alcatraz, and everybody knows Amenra by now.

Tonny: There are some really cool heavy bands from all the areas we come from, (we don’t live so close to each other). West-Flanders, Antwerp, Mechelen, there’s a proper heavy scene everywhere so, yeah, that’s really cool.

Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Migjel: Yes, no, maybe so.

Terence: Sure.

Tonny: 2025, in Belgium and surrounding countries, check our website hraefn.be for all kinds of information.

What are your plans for the future as a band?
Migjel: Splitting because of musical differences?

Terence: Maybe rehab?

Tonny: Treatment for mental collapse?

All: Hahahaha (laughter)

Tonny: More shows, new music, louder shows, louder music!!!

How can people best support your band?
Migjel: Send money for food or listen to our new EP »Research Into Infinity«.

Terence: You’re forgetting devil’s lettuce vouchers & beer.

Tonny: Learn the lyrics and then come to the shows. No, seriously, send money for food, devil’s lettuce vouchers & beer.

Do you have any message for your listeners?
Migjel: Enjoy the new EP and if you like it listen again and if you don’t, don’t!

Terence: Peace and love for all mankind.

Tonny: We love you all even if you don’t like us.

Links:
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Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well