There are some bands that I do not listen to unless I am reviewing their albums, but I continue to review them as I respect them for what they do. This is the case with the Finnish Black Metal Overlords Horna. I know what I am going to get going into this. They have met me in the middle over the years as their albums are more well-produced and less infested with blast beats than the previous ones. Now 11 albums in the question have to be so what does this album have the previous ten did not? The vocals stand out a little more. Not a great deal. But some. This thrashes as much as it blasts. There is tangible darkness that puts them ahead of half the bands claiming to be black metal. No one is questioning this band's commitment. Some question the band's hateful roots, but black metal should be hateful, and these guys carry plenty of sonic wrath.
The second song finds the band buzzing along at warp speed. There are subtle nuances in the punch of the guitar, but it hits like a solid wave of sound. The vocals are a choked rasp, that sometimes is more of a snarl. Not the best vocalist in black metal, but he gets the job done. The drumming does get more deliberate, and vocals join in on some unison chants, so attempts are being made at songwriting. There are more sonic similarities between these guys and Watain, as the guitars carry more of a throb while maintaining a rawness. Watain is a better band, but Horna has now improved to be able to be compared to them. The chorus of the third hymn, has an almost punk feel. Unlike punk, they milk the riffs for all they are worth as this is a six-minute song not a three-minute one.
The fourth song just buzzes by like the good ole days. They are not letting up any on the song after that either. There are some spooky sounds layered over it, but overall not do a lot new. The song after this one follows not too far beyond the previous one, which makes me wonder, how their fans have already bought 10 albums of the same thing. The last song finds them taking a stab at neo-folk, but it kind of drones on as the only novel elements being they prove they can sing when they want to, I think hearing this sort of thing worked into the average blast fest might make it more interesting. I will give this album an 8.5, there are improvements in songwriting and presentation, but it feels not far from what we have heard from them.
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