Hailing from Rancagua in Chile’s O’Higgins Region, Hexen is a band rooted in the traditions of classic heavy metal, delivering a sound shaped by epic themes, galloping riffs, and a strong DIY spirit. Formed by seasoned musicians from across the Chilean metal scene, Hexen has quickly developed a distinct identity, drawing on dark folklore, fantasy, and raw energy. In this interview, the band discusses their formation, creative influences, connection to Chilean culture, and the journey behind their latest release, Join the Ritual.

Interview

TheNwothm: For the uninitiated—who is Hexen, and how would you describe your sound in just one sentence?

H: Hexen is a traditional heavy metal from Rancagua, Chile, that delivers an old-school, epic metal assault fueled by galloping riffs, powerful vocals, and themes of sorcery, battle, and dark folklore.

TheNwothm: You’ve all played in other Chilean bands before. What was the moment you knew this lineup had something special? How did you form?

Basthian: Sergio and I were the last remaining members of what was Iron Heade after the pandemic. We knew Carlos from his other band, Houndz of Hate, and David García from Trowen and Lafaln, but we were missing a voice. Sergio had known Víctor for a long time; Víctor had mainly dedicated his time to playing covers, but Sergio trusted his vocal quality. We contacted him with a clear offer: “We want to play Heavy Metal, with original songs, are you in?” Víctor joined without hesitation, and thus began the story of this lineup. Initially, we continued with the Iron Heade project, but after a short time, we noticed this was something different—a distinct force, sharper and darker. That’s when the idea of starting from scratch arose, with a new identity more in line with what our communion conveyed. That’s how Hexen was forged, with its own identity, sound, and aesthetic.

TheNwothm: “Hexen” is a striking name so what’s the story behind it? Was it a unanimous decision or a name battle worthy of your lyrical themes?

Sergio: When we decided to create a new and unique identity for the band, the first thing was to give it a name—one that would resonate with the lyrical themes, the visual aesthetic we wanted to propose, and of course, the sound. We started with “Hex,” but we felt it was lacking something, the guy working with the logo remarked that the three-letter word wasn’t best choice in terms of design. We were there trying to come up with a solution when we remembered a great game from the 90s, “Hexen: Beyond Heretic,” which consumed many hours of our childhoods and most certainly fueled our taste for this theme of witchcraft, swords, and sinister spells.

TheNwothm: Chile has a rich history steeped in myth, struggle, and identity. How do your surroundings and culture influence your themes of paganism, battle, and dark folklore?

Basthian: Chile indeed possesses a deep well of its own unique myths, a history of struggle, and a strong cultural identity. While our lyrical themes currently draw more heavily from a broader, perhaps more universal pool of European paganism, classic sword & sorcery narratives, and dark fantasy tropes that are staples of traditional heavy metal, Chile shares much of that in the legends of witchcraft, warlocks and “La Recta Provincia” The mix of that lyric background plus the collective imaginary of epic fantasy dwells fits perfectly with our Chilean background. It’s perhaps more of an indirect, environmental, and spiritual influence on the mood and power of our songs, even though we have used Chilean sources to fuel some of our lyrics.

TheNwothm: You hail from Rancagua in Chile’s O’Higgins Region. What’s the local music or metal scene like there, and how has that environment helped shape Hexen?

Sergio: Rancagua is a city with many high-caliber bands. Generally speaking, one could say it leans more towards extreme metal branches with bands like Wrathprayer, Oraculum, and Bleed to name some, but there’s always a space to cultivate traditional Heavy Metal. It’s something that resonates with everyone who is part of the Metal scene—whether they want to admit it or not, at some point in their lives, bands like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest blew their minds. With this in consideration, our proposal, which aims to be purist, has been well-received and supported by both fans and colleagues in the scene. We started having to create spaces for traditional heavy metal and doom metal (our dearest cousins) in Rancagua, by producing the “Metal Ritual” ourselves but somehow in the last few years Traditional Heavy Metal has got more and more space.

TheNwothm: Do any specific Chilean legends, rituals, or historical events make their way into your lyrics or imagery?

Basthian: Not at this moment. Our lyrics are shaped based on something more universal, so to speak—the quintessential dark fantasy theme, clearly originating from Europe. However, we must also highlight that a large part of our music is nourished by the book “Héroes de Piedra Cortada” (“Heroes of Cut Stone”), authored by Sergio. Yes, not only is he an enormous musician, but he also writes books, and of course, epic and dark fantasy. The world Sergio built for his book is seared into the instrumental track “The Siege at Cut Stone” and its successor, “Keep the Fires Burning” it is also mentioned in “Hex of the Warlock” and “Blood and poison”.

TheNwothm: How has being a Chilean metal band shaped your reception abroad?Do international fans notice or ask about your heritage?

Sergio: The reception abroad has been very positive and encouraging! There’s a certain mystique and a well-earned respect for South American metal in general, and Chilean metal, in particular, has a strong, passionate, and often raw reputation that many international fans appreciate. We’ve found that international fans are often curious and very supportive. They do ask about the Chilean scene, and it’s always great to connect with them on that level and feel like we’re representing Chilean metal on a wider stage. Being signed to a French label, Under Siege Records, has also been instrumental in helping us reach an international audience that seems genuinely receptive and enthusiastic about bands from different corners of the world.

TheNwothm: What’s in your current gear arsenal? Any specific guitars, pedals, or amps you swear by to achieve that signature Hexen sound?

Basthian: Sergio and I were always “plug & play”—guitars straight into the amp and let’s go! Over the years, and in seeking to define the sound we wanted, we’ve leaned towards using pedals, and there’s a certain preference for the “Marshall” sound. Regarding strings, Sergio currently uses a BC Rich Mockingbird and occasionally his Ibanez Iceman. Carlos is faithful to his Epiphone Thunderbird, and I haven’t let go of my Solar V2.6 for a good while now. As for David, his drum kit is a Mapex Meridian Birch Pro, last but not least, Victor came equipped with a Vintage Larynx paired with two well-preserved lungs.

TheNwothm: Your 2022 debut EP “Wild Hunt” introduced the world to your galloping riffs and metal screams. Looking back, what do you feel that EP captured about Hexen’s early identity?

Basthian: “Wild Hunt” was essentially our initial attempt to give our band it’s character, a raw and honest declaration of our intent to play traditional heavy metal. That EP was about laying down the fundamental pillars of our sound – the galloping twin-guitar riffs, the epic and occult lyrical themes, Víctor’s distinct vocal style – and really establishing that “old-school metal or die” spirit. It might have been a bit more lo-fi in its production compared to “Join the Ritual,” but it was raw and unfiltered, full of will and expectations. Looking back, we are proud of our work.

TheNwothm: “Bones and Cauldrons” from “Wild Hunt” has a raw intensity. What was the inspiration behind that track, both lyrically and musically?

Sergio: “Bones and Cauldrons” was one of the very first songs we forged as Hexen, and it really helped set the tone and define our early direction. Musically, we aimed for something relentlessly driving, with that classic galloping Maiden/Priest rhythmic feel, but infused with a darker, more overtly occult atmosphere. Lyrically, it’s a direct dive into the imagery of witchcraft, ancient, forbidden rituals, the brewing of potent concoctions, and the summoning of dark, primal powers – the tale of a poor soul tricked into the covenant to become the vessel of an ancient evil, that would mate with the witches to fill our world with their offspring.

TheNwothm: Fast-forward to “Join the Ritual,” your full-length 2025 release. How did signing with Under Siege Records impact the creative process for this album?

Basthian: Signing with Under Siege Records was a fantastic boost for us and a significant validation of the hard work we’d been putting in. Creatively, it didn’t drastically alter how we write our music, as our vision for “Join the Ritual” and the songs themselves were already quite clearly defined and in development. However, knowing we had the backing and support of a dedicated international label like Under Siege definitely gave us an added layer of confidence and perhaps a bit more ambition, particularly concerning the production quality we aimed for. It allowed us to really focus on crafting the best possible album we could, knowing it would have the chance to reach a much wider, global audience. Their belief in our music was a tremendous motivator throughout the final stages of the production and it is still now a huge part of what drive us forward.

TheNwothm: “Blood and Poison” feels like a centrepiece of “Join the Ritual!” What’s the story behind that track, and why did it earn its place as your official music video?

Basthian: “Blood and Poison” is definitely a track we’re proud of and one that we feel encapsulates a lot of what Hexen is about. It has that driving, relentless energy, a memorable, anthemic chorus, and a slightly darker, more aggressive undertone that we really enjoy. Lyrically, it delves in the doings of an evil priest that sacrifices the lives of his town in order to achieve his god favor – classic dark fantasy and heavy metal storytelling all set in the world of “Héroes de Piedra Cortada”. We chose it for the official music video because it’s musically dynamic, it strongly represents the overall energy and vibe of “Join the Ritual”. It just felt like a powerful, representative statement track for the album.

TheNwothm: “Starhill” and “Hex of the Warlock” both seem to hint at rich, fantasy-driven worlds. Are these songs connected in any lore or concept?

Sergio: No, they are not connected. Starhill’s lyrics were written by Victor and it is about an extinction level event and how religion and creed could do nothing but watch. It also questions the way we face the inevitable, meanwhile, Hex of the Warlock is another song set on the world of “Héroes de Piedra Cortada” in which this warlock is deciphering the key to open The Veil between worlds.

TheNwothm: The title track, “Join the Ritual,” really feels like an anthem. What ritual are you inviting listeners to partake in?

Sergio: It is an anthem for us at least. We wrote it to commemorate the first Metal Ritual (a small fest produced by ourselves) in which we call all of our brothers who march towards the ceremonial rites that are the shows. Is for all of those metal heads that still attend to shows, buy merch, sing the songs and find their own place among their equals.

TheNwothm: Let’s lift the curtain—what’s something about each band member that fans wouldn’t expect?

Victor: He was already here when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Loves cats and oldschool rpgs.

Carlos: Thrasher buddy you’ll ever meet. Teaches arts and music at a elementary school. Plays TCGs

David: Cars enthusiast, he loves driving. Has the less in common with the rest according to music taste. Has been in a lot, I mean A LOT of bands.

Basthian: Gym freak, never skips a day. Likes cats too, he is also into TCGs, looks grumpy but is actually super nice.

Sergio: Practices Karate, ESL teacher at a public highschool, has a dog called Tango Milaneso Napolitano.

TheNwothm: If Hexen could soundtrack any film or series—past, present, or imaginary—which would it be?

Sergio: I guess we would go for Conan, Lovecraftian movies and if at some point somebody decides to make a Dragonlance live action, please, call us.

TheNwothm: Now that “Join the Ritual” is out in the world—what’s next? Are there already riffs or lyrics simmering for a follow-up?

Basthian: We are already working on new songs. Our goal is to have a bunch of them by July and select the best ones to work with thinking in a future LP. As a matter of fact, we have played some of them live to check on the audience’s reaction.

TheNwothm: What are your touring plans for 2025 and can we expect Hexen to venture beyond Chile soon—any international tour plans or dream destinations you’d love to hit?

Sergio: We would love to venture into other countries and we are working actively to reach that goal, we intend on playing at traditional heavy metal fests as Keep it True and P.W.O.A at some point. If you are reading this and know promoter or tour manager that would be interested, let them now. We are ready to take the ritual to your nearest venue.

TheNwothm: How can our readers buy your music and merch?

Sergio: If you are interested in our music, you can write to Under Siege records and ask for the album. Under Siege made sure there are copies spread through Europe and even Asia. You can also visit our Bandcamp for digital goods.Any other type of merch such as patches, shirts, pins and more, are available at our shows, so come to Chile and grab some merch.

TheNwothm: Where can fans follow you online?

Basthian: You can follow us on facebook.com/hexenchile, Instagram (@hexeheavymetal), bandcamp (https://hexenchile.bandcamp.com/), the evil spotify and all streaming platforms.

TheNwothm: Anything else you would like to mention?

Sergio: Yeah, go to shows, support underground and local bands, buy merch, have a blast, don’t drink and drive, always save your progress two times, drink water and play some freakin’ heavy metal!