Yes this is Vorna, not Horna in case you thought I’d got something wrong and this act has been around since about 2008 and released a trio of demos culminating in this debut album of melodic black metal and proudly announcing folk elements within their music. Normally I would cringe and tell our exalted editor to stick it in the proverbial place where the UV rays find it difficult to penetrate, bad choice of word there I know. Anyway the bands description of their music sounded interesting so what the hell, plus I’d been to see Finntroll as well, which is handy as some parts of Vorna’s music has hints of their compatriots within the song writing.
As ever there’s a gentle intro piece that yields to announce the arrival of the epic “Hiiden Taival”, a dynamic and theatrical composition covering all the boundaries of melodic black metal with touches of folk sensibility without resorting to unnecessary pomp. I actually felt touches of Týr as well, due to the guitar hooks and melodies. There are some symphonic elements added to the mixture too creating a multi-faceted album with diverse textures. “Ukkonen” offers that symphonia by the shovel load and for comparisons sake is like Dimmu Borgir or Old Man’s Child. The bands talent for structuring copiously rich and diverse riffs is excellent, they draw you in, retain their grasp and envelope you in an encompassing ice blanket of harmony.
Whilst genre descriptions help in clarification purposes, journalistically it can impose limitations and this is where black metal and any sub genre fails to do justice in relating how deeply coloured this album is, with the musicianship unfolding great swathes of exquisite accomplishment, from sublime bitter barbarity to enthralling acoustic gentleness all underpinned by schizoid vocal thuggery on “Harhan Liekki”. There is melodious addictive haze to “Pakanaveri” with its folk like elements imbuing a dream like ritual sat around a forest camp fire, telling stories of old whilst drinking warm mead. “Enslilumi” fits my forest scenario with an interlude of cawing bird noises, distant drums and the wind whistling by carrying vocal echoes building supremely into “Ikuiseen Iitaan”, with dominant keyboards, a thudding double kick and passionate riffing. The half blast signals a charge forth as the guitar and keyboards battle with each other, neither wanting to relent as the guitar unleashes a potent spine tingling solo.
I felt that this album got stronger as it was played, with each note creating visionary manifestations to wrench you from your mortal existence to another omnipotent dimension where everything just seems so much better until it ends with the closing epic composition of “Muisto”, an acoustically initiated piece of music with symphonic string like components balanced by doom like drudge and very deep vocals. The switch to an uplifting beat is positively euphoric and is really rather dense, as the song swerves seamlessly from one section to another with considerable aplomb. As you’ve probably gathered this is a quality melodic black metal album, with folk and symphonic modules and is a truly captivating listen.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
https://www.facebook.com/VornaOfficial
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