Horna - Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa (2013)

Finish Black Metal giants Horna return with another killer Black Metal release that is set to rape and pillage plenty of speakers and eardrums for months to come. As one of the biggest names in Black Metal, it is not suprising that Horna delivers 48 minutes of soul crushing BM lead by Shatraug and fronted by their newest vocalist Spellgoth of Turmion Kätilöt fame.

Setting a very diabolical mood with “Alku”, things really pick up with the crushing “Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa”. Having written the book on Black Metal riffing, Shatraug delivers some very hyptonic and crunchy riffs that are perfect of Spellgoth’s demonic snarls. The band’s ability to quickly change tempos between catchy powerful riffing and full-on blast-beats and curshing spend is just amazing and it is nicely showcased on tracks like “Kunnia Herralle, Kuninkaalle” and “Kuolema Kuoleman Jälkeen”.

One thing we didn’t quite like in this release is some of the deeper screams, they just sound a bit off and sometimes killed the mood, but in some tracks like “Yhdeksäs Portti” they get the job done.  The band’s intensity on our favorite track “Kärsimyksin Vuoltu Hänen Valittuna Äänenään” is what really sets them apart from the rest of the Black Metal community, Horna has always been synonymous with raw and furious BM and they have never failed to deliver.

Closing this release with brutal tracks like “Aamutähden Pyhimys”, “Pala Tai Palvele”, and “Ota Omaksesi, Luoksesi” the band only shows signs of getting more brutal and refined with age. These tracks are both extremely aggressive and very well crafted, with diverse riffing structures, tight drumming and a thundering bass guitar line that anybody in the scene would envy. If you are a diehard fan of Black Metal and Horna, be sure to pick up this one since you will NOT be disappointed with the music presented in this release.

Release: March 1st, 2013

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Finland