Horna – Nyx Hymnejä Yölle

Roughly a week ago, I was still playing the vinyl version of the previous album, Kuoleman Kirjo, which was released in 2020. And now, rather unexpectedly, here is album number twelve, if you don’t count the many EPs, live albums, and splits. The Finnish band Horna, praised, famous, and notorious for their ultra-filthy cesspool black metal, is back. The gentlemen in the band, I’m thinking of drummer LRH, for example, but the rest of the group as well, haven’t been idle. Over the past few years, new material has been released from bands in which these gentlemen are also  involved. I’ll just mention the latest albums from Byhtos en Night Shall Drape Us as examples.

The band has been around since time immemorial. The guys have played … I don’t even know where, all over the place, but this Finnish black metal machine left such an impression on me during a concert in a small café somewhere in a corner of Dutch Limburg that I’ve always kept following them. The music is pure, raw, rough, and jagged, unleashing such malice, such wickedness upon you that it makes you immediately want to teach those know-it-alls across the street a good lesson. Fortunately, I’m a peaceful person, but it just might happen one day… maybe now with this Nyx Hymnejä Yölle.

If you want everything neat, clean, and shiny, then you definitely shouldn’t listen to Horna. Although, the production on this latest album involves a bit less dust and rust. Five blackened underground tracks are spewed at you. The last track, Kuoleva Lupaus, already appeared on the live album Vihan Tiellä from 2009, and originally on Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne from 2005. It’s an especially strong track that works really well live. As for the reason behind including this particular track on this album, that’s not entirely clear to me at this point. But there must be a reason, one that perhaps escaped me.

Meanwhile Hymni I pounds ahead relentlessly, and I’m treated to a brief moment in the middle of this first track where the pace slows down, the bass gurgles a bit, and a steady tom build-up is used, only to kick back into high gear again. It’s always striking how Mr. Spellgoth manages to phrase his lyrics so captivatingly, wonderful! Hymni II is, if not better, just as impressive, you’re immediately hit with some hypnotic guitar work. Also, pay close attention to the intricacy and finesse in Mr. LRH’s drumming. Good heavens! These guys, Horna, seem to spit out one venomous, toxic riff after another on this latest record. How nauseatingly good is minute four of Hymni III for example? And what about the sheer brutality hidden further along in the album—brilliantly acidic black metal with a melodic edge, I can already tell you that. The guys finish with a surprise. I mentioned the track Kuoleva Lupaus earlier. What you get here is a fully acoustic version, complete with clean vocals… It actually leaves me speechless.

Horna is, and remains, a first-class Finnish black metal machine! This latest epic Nyx Hymnejä Yölle also forces its angry message straight down your throat—whether you want it or not. Buy it, no questions!