HORNA – Nyx (Hymnejä Yölle)

A black metal feast that came to life from hymns composed around Izmir approximately 1800 years ago and continues to this day

I think the size and importance of a band is directly proportional to how often that band's name is mentioned in reviews of other bands. For example, if you search for MORBID ANGEL, you will get reviews of hundreds of albums other than MORBID ANGEL albums. The same goes for DEATH, OPETH, PANTERA, MESHUGGAH, DREAM THEATER and many other bands.

There are also very important and big bands in black metal that are considered the mainstays of the genre. Most of these bands come from Norway or Sweden and dictate their own musical understanding to the genre and the bands that come after.

Speaking specifically about black metal, Finland is also a country that has contributed a lot to this genre and has hosted bands that have managed to create a characteristic identity. And when this country and black metal are mentioned together, one of the first few bands that comes to mind is undoubtedly the dark quintet HORNA, who have been rocking the scene for 30 years.

HORNA is perhaps not as characteristic as IMMORTAL, not as sensational as MAYHEM, not as uncompromising as MARDUK, and not as potentially earning a living as DARKTHRONE. Despite this, they are one of the most important flag bearers of the Finnish sound and they make themselves known in every way.

The name of the album, “Hymnejä yölle”, means “Night Hymns” and is based on hymns dedicated to the Greek goddess of the night, Nyx. These hymns, which can be considered as “Orphic Hymns”, written in Western Anatolia, mostly in Pergamon, in the second and third centuries AD and considered as literary works within the scope of the Orphism belief, contain various praises and worships offered to the goddess Nyx, which are also reflected on the album cover by HORNA.

The first thing to say about “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)” is that after “Kuoleman Kirjo” the band went back to the 47-48 minute album thing. Although “Kuoleman Kirjo” was very good, being 68 minutes long created the risk of repetition in some songs and perhaps reduced the marginal benefit of the album. With “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)” the band regains its old refined identity and eliminates the possibility of loss of concentration or focus.

If we leave aside the closing song, which is a neofolk version of “Kuoleva lupaus” arranged by former HORNA bassist Hex Inferi from “Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne” released in 2005, “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)”, which consists of five hymns with a total duration of 35 minutes, contains songs that can be evaluated within the framework of the half-sadness/half-anger formula that suits HORNA’s Finnish character.

Among these songs, one has a high-level structure that, in my opinion, will rise above all the others and become one of the best songs in HORNA history. This song, which I am almost certain may also contain some ideas thought up for BYTHOS, to which HORNA is organically connected, is “Hymni II”, which exhibits everything that is good about HORNA. This song, which does black metal without making the slightest concessions, yet is so catchy, appealing to the heart, and contains some of the most beautiful basic components of the genre, truly manages to take “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)” from one place and put it somewhere else on its own.

While doing this, it benefits from Shatraug’s compositional power that has been going on for years, Spellgoth’s shouty vocals that suit HORNA incredibly, and LRH’s drums that sound more ornate, especially on this album. In all the songs, including “Hymni II” which I would like to mention again, it is possible to see Shatraug’s experience in writing tasteful black metal riffs, Spellgoth’s vocals that prevent HORNA from being a standard black metal band, and the flavor of the HORNA sound that flourishes with the addition of other elements.

When we sum up everything, we can easily say that “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)” is a valuable and very solid album. It may not be considered a modern masterpiece, HORNA’s best album, a masterpiece that will leave its mark on the year, but it is a very good and enjoyable album in every way. If you are a black metal fan, you should definitely listen to it.

#HymnejäYölle