Horna – Nyx (Hymnejä Yölle)

Band: Horna
Album: Nyx (Hymnejä Yölle)
Label: World Terror Committee
Release date: September 13th, 2024
Country: Finland
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording

Perhaps the name one will hear the most times when first delving into the realms of Finnish Black Metal is Horna, and not without reason. Across their career of over 20 years, they have released a huge amount of material, including 12 full-length albums, and an even bigger number of EPs and splits, all of which are up to the highest standard. They’re one of those bands that you can’t really speak badly of, because you’ll come off sounding utterly clueless.

Speaking of high musical standards, the band’s latest effort, Nyx (Hymnejä Yölle) is a perfect example of them. It has all the characteristics of a great black metal record, while also including a breath of fresh air into the composition. Pretty much every element included works in favour of the songs, from the production quality, to the performance itself, and, of course, the incredible album cover (I admit that it was the thing that drove me to this album in the first place). According to guitarist and main songwriter Shatraug, the album is based around the poems from Novalis’ Hymnen an die Nacht (Hymns to the Night) which the album reflects in its structure and titles. Shatraug also mentioned that he decided to add several twists to the concept, which makes things even more interesting.

The album starts out with “Hymni I”, a fast paced track, full of power and energy. The riffs are melodic, yet ominous, setting the tone for the soundscape of the album. The vocals are done in classic Horna faishon, including high black metal screeches, along with eerie, almost clean occasional screams. I particularly enjoy the way the shifting drum beats emphasize the overall dynamic of the music, creating focus and drawing you in for more. To put it simply, it is the kind of song that convinces you to listen to the album it belongs to. “Hymni I” spans at about six minutes and a half, offering time for all the musical ideas in the song to be developed properly, and to also set the tone for the next song.

“Hymni II” continues of a similar tone to its predecessor, being based around a high tempo rhythm with epic riffs and soaring vocals. It is more uniform in terms of rhythmic changes, but this doesn’t take anything away from the song’s complexity and dynamism. The guitar work is slightly more intricate, including tasteful leads inbetween some of the verses. It is one of those songs that every time you listen to it, you will find more new details, and I think that’s what makes it so appealing. Although a tad shorter in time span, I would consider it even better developed than “Hymni I”, only due to the huge amount of elements that are present in the composition.

“Hymni III” on the other hand, is a bit of a different story. It’s less of a soaring epic, and more of a groovy headbanger with that classic melodic flair often found in Horna’s discography. Although it is a bit of an oddball when compared to the album’s general soundscape, I believe that the new musical ideas it includes do a great service to the music as a whole, because it showcases the band’s songwriting versatility, and it also creates intrigue for what is to come next. I remember when I first listened to the album, this was one of the songs that actually sparked my curiosity the most, and it sort of stayed with me for quite some time.

“Hymni IV”, although similar to the first two tracks in terms of overall approach and structure, brings a rather dramatic shift in terms of mood, bringing about a bleaker, more melancholic atmosphere, which takes the song to more ominous realms, compared to its predecessors. This is probably why I would consider “Hymni IV” to be my favourite of off the whole album. I just love the way all those epic elements blend with the more hateful and bleak atmosphere, creating a tormented masterpiece that clings to your skin. Everything here emphasizes these sensations, drums, guitars, vocals and production. If you search for powerful black metal, this will definitely satisfy your desires.

Drawing closer to the end of the record, “Hymni V” is a pummeling, misanthropic masterpiece. The riffs storm through the composition, shrouding the listener in unescapeable darkness. The vocals carry an almost sorrowful tinge to them, which is even more obvious here than on “Hymni IV”. It’s that kind of song where, even though you can’t figure out what they’re singing about, you have a pretty clear picture of it only coming from the sound itself. And those haunting clean passages that fade into howls are the cherry on top. It’s purely bone-chilling.

Remember when I mentioned “Hymni III” being an oddball? Well, I reconsider, because “Kuoleva lupaus” comes as a complete plot twist, right when you least expect it. It is a very calm acoustic track, where all the harshness of the album fades into the gentle sound of a single guitar, and a chorus of voices singing a beautiful Finnish melody. Although it’s completely different from anything else, it comes as a fitting conclusion to the album, an epilogue of some sorts. In any case, it’s a great piece of music nonetheless.

I can safely say that Horna outdid themselves with this album. All the songs are well written, there’s an awesome concept to tie them altogether, and, to put it simply, once you’ve heard it once, you’ll want to listen to it again and again. Go check it out, I promise you won’t Be disappointed. 10/10 by Ioana

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