Today I have been listening to Thonian Horde‘s latest effort, to be released on Grimoire Records May 24. The album is called Downfall (no Hitler puns) and features what can only be described as 10 scathing heavy blackened rock and roll tracks. The snarling vocals and anti-cosmic lyrical themes are definitely black metal. The rhythm section thick, sludgy and unrelenting. But the thing that sets this album apart for me is the guitar work. I know this band personally derives some influence from bands like Watain but they don’t hit you over the head with it. This sound is all their own. Strong, memorable melodies and soaring epic refrains make this a very satisfying listen. I feel like this is the band’s most mature and most forward-thinking work yet. It’s a work that could launch them out of the MD doom scene, in which the players are deeply rooted, and into uncharted territories. Make sure to check it out when it is released.
M Spiro