Dawnwalker

The Hirsch Effekt – Der Brauch Review

The Hirsch Effekt – Der Brauch Review

By Twelve on February 9, 2026 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 31 comments

“Motivation can be a tricky thing. Take me, for instance—it’s my first review of 2026, and I’m already starting it later in the month than I meant to. For me, motivation has been a bit lacking. Now look at the subject of my first review, Der Brauch (“The Need”) from German progressive metal act The Hirsch Effekt. This is their seventh full-length release in sixteen years of existence, a commendable testament to motivation, at the very least. And while putting pen to paper (figuratively) can be a hard thing to do, I love writing about a motivated group.” Pause and effekt.

Dawnwalker – The Between Review

Dawnwalker – The Between Review

By Twelve on October 21, 2025 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 23 comments

“Some bands are simply brimming with ideas. It feels like it was just last year I last reviewed the UK’s Dawnwalker—because it was just last year, and Mark Norgate apparently has a lot on his mind. It’s been fewer than five years since I first reviewed Dawnwalker, and this is my fourth time penning their reviews. The albums, however, could not be more different. From Ages to The Unknowing, Dawnwalker have tread genres, influences, styles, and ideas. Musicians have come and gone and come back again. But Norgate’s vision is the constant, alongside a healthy respect for progressive metal—and boundary-pushing.” New dawn, same walk?

Dawnwalker – The Unknowing Review

Dawnwalker – The Unknowing Review

By Twelve on October 17, 2024 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 41 comments

“Dawnwalker is a fascinating project. I first encountered the UK group in 2020, on the recommendation of Huck N Roll, who thought I’d enjoy the death-prog-folk leanings of Ages. He was right about that, so their return two years later for House of Sand was an exciting moment—except Dawnwalker had dawn-walked into a completely different direction, done away with the death, kind of kept the folk, and seriously upped the prog. Now it’s two years later again, and The Unknowing is here, and I don’t have any idea what to expect.” Mysteries and enigmas.