The 1973 release of "Zwai" by Häx Cel on Black Beard Records captured the band in a nascent stage of their influential doom metal sound. This album is a foundational document of the genre.
- The album was recorded at a small studio in Hamburg, Germany. It was originally released on vinyl by Black Beard Records in February 1973. Contemporary reviews noted its experimental length and unconventional song structures for the time.
- The album's length and pacing were considered radical for its time, with the title track alone spanning over 15 minutes.
- "Zwai" predates many of the bands that would later cite Häx Cel as a major influence.
Häx Cel is a pioneering force in the nascent doom metal scene. Emerging from the underground in the early 1970s, their early work established a template for slow, heavy, and menacing music. On "Zwai," Häx Cel was at a transitional point, having recently signed with Black Beard Records and preparing to refine their sound for subsequent, more widely recognized releases.
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