One day I’ll visit Finland. This crazy arctic land produces some of the finest Black and Death Metal that the Metal community feeds on daily. Impaled Nazarene, Behexen, Sargeist, and Satanic Warmaster are four of my favorite bands from there, but my top favorite is undoubtedly Horna; this strange, evolving demon that has existed since 1995 with their Demo Varjoissa.

I first heard them in 2005 with their amazing Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne. After that, I was hooked on their raw, searing style of Black Metal. I sought out their other albums Sudentaival (2001), Haudankylmyyden mailla (1999) and  Sotahuuto (2007).

Apparently there have been different eras of the band, the Nazgul-fronted version during the late ‘90s to early 2000s, then the feverish Corvus-fronted years from 2003 to 2009, and finally, the Spellgoth-fronted lineup that began the 2010s. This is something I hadn’t been aware of, but it’s amazing what you find out during research.

Nyx (Hymnejä yölle) is Horna’s twelfth studio album and it’s incredible. The band consists of Shatraug – guitar, Infection – guitar, Spellgoth – vocals, LRH – drums and Vnom – bass guitar. Firing riffs after riff like musical bullets first track “Hymni I” rips open a chest wound and blast beats on your heart. It’s pulsing with the power of Satanic wrath, there’s a bit more of a melodious approach with Nyx (Hymenjä Yölle) than on… Kasteessa kirottu for example. The killer thrashing section in the middle of the song before the blasts kick back in has this beauty in darkness emanating from the notes and chord changes. It’s a captivating beating, and when “Hymni II” comes storming in with striding drums that slip into an Immortal-style rumbler scattered with blast beats and huge Black Metal riffs that burn with malicious intent.

With this being only six songs it clocks in at a respectable 43:57 minutes, built on the over eight-minute long tracks, of which there are two, then seven minutes, with five minutes being the shortest track. It benefits from the solid mixing done at Demonspeed Music and bombastic mastering at Trollhouse Studio.

“Hymni III” is my favorite track it rages along with an Aura Noir feeling, it’s a bit of an ambient track that moves with spectral energy. The infectious rhythms worm their way into your mind, causing thoughts of falling angels and impaled souls screaming in agony; while others drown in a lake of blood and fire. Such is the effect that Horna has achieved with Nyx (Hymnejä yölle), a magnificent black jewel in an already studded crown.

“Hymni IV” blasts from the get-go and doesn’t slow down till the 5:00 mark where it morphs into a Black Thrash Metal crusher that turns into “Hymni V” with a huge Lord Belial riff that could’ve been on Enter the Moonlight Gate; it’s another favorite track (not just because I think it sounds like Lord Belial) it’s angry and short at five minutes.

“Kuoleva lupaus” is the final track, which features former bassist (and currently Kryptamok main man) Hex Inferi. It provides a stark counterpoint to the brutality that preceded. It’s a captivating song, reminiscent of Ulver’s Bergtatt – Et eeventyr I 5 capitler and my favorite album from them Kveldssanger. It’s a perfect way to end Nyx (Hymnejä yölle), a solemn note upon which to make an epic finish.

You need this album, constant reader. It’s almost Halloween, and Horna have brought the horror.

[Visit the band's website]

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