Damno Lumina Nocte

Hornwood Fell is a bit of a strange beast. This Italian band started by worshipping at the altar of the big names of the second wave of Scandinavian black metal. Having released their fourth full length album called “Damno Lumina Nocte” within only five years it is safe to say that while the roots are still obvious and present in their sound the music has overall evolved into a different beast.

The typical tremolo picks and the pummeling blasts can be found here as well still building the basis of Hornwood Fell’s music. While each black metal band puts a lot of emphasis on building a sinister atmosphere these guys have gone even a bit further compared to their peers. I would not go as far as labelling this album as atmospheric or post black metal as the main focus is still on the riffs and the relentless drum attacks but there are a lot of desperate and haunting harmonies dwelling in the background. Eerie themes presented by the lead guitar are always present – sometimes more subtle and in other places as leading elements defining certain parts of the song.

Beside the spectacular guitar work also the rhythm section has to be mentioned. The drumming is precise following the main patterns of each song and highlighting several sections where an extra portion of intensity is needed. Most of the time it is kept pretty laid-back underlining the stoic and sometimes even doomy nature of the music. “Damno Lumina Nocte” for sure is not an album for showing off any instrumental wankery but presenting a stringent piece of music dragging the listener into a dark and melancholic world. The soundscape created by the themes in the background is very sinister and works as basement for the riffing and the hard hitting grooves.

The songs are structured in a way that it might not be immediately clear where the band wanted to go but consecutive listens will help sharpening the picture. The build-ups are often dramatic with a lot of instrumental and acoustic sections making the album feel very atmospheric and more laid-back than most other works of the genre. It is obvious that Marco and Andrea had no intention to break any speed records but create something unique and emotional.

There are other factors than staying away from the slightly chaotic feeling inherent in most black metal records that could make Hornwood Fell more interesting for metal fans in general. For one the vocals are aggressive but not too hysterical. I would not go as far as call them “clean” but they are easily understandable and just a bit less hyperbolic than you might expect on such a release. Beside that the production is quite modern and less fuzzy with a clear and powerful mix. Purists might criticize this approach but to my ears the sound is spot-on. Rounded off by a stunning cover artwork open minded fans of the genre need to go on and check this album out. One of my 2019 highlights in the black metal sector so far.