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Symphonic Yet Raw - Hortor's Early Sound - 75%
If you've become hooked on Mexico's premier unblack act Hortor with their very well-done album "Ancient Satanic Rituals Are Crushed in Dust", and you're looking to check out their older stuff, then be prepared for a little shock.
Unlike the more bare-bones sound of "Ancient Satanic Rituals...", Hortor's first album is rife with a sound much more reminiscent of early Emperor, "Dusk...and Her Embrace"-era Cradle of Filth (when they were actually worth two shits), and Beeroth. Don't misunderstand me though - the music here is extremely harsh, and Azmaveth's vocals are berserk high-pitched screeches almost bordering on white noise.
The wild roller-coasting keyboards a la Beeroth are a central part of the music here, and often linger on individual notes for longer, creating an effect more akin to Emperor's "In the Nightside Eclipse" but with "Wrath of the Tyrant" quality. The emphasis here I think is not so much on gothic piano bashing, but rather creating a more atmospheric sound, and Hortor does this decently enough.
Like I said, occasionally the music sounds like a slower-played version of Cradle of Filth's "Dusk...and Her Embrace". The shrieks are very similar to Dani Filth circa 1996-1997, but are much, much rawer than his. Guitar-work is quite technical, but is often drowned out a little by the hissing production. Blasting is minimal on this album - the music is very mid-paced, similar to the same pace that Winter's Dawn goes on for much of their debut album.
Like Beeroth, female vocals are used here too (Hortor, come to think of it, are committing a hell of a lot of cardinal sins here - keys, female vocals, gothic atmospheres, etc.), but they are pushed back into the mix for a more atmospheric effect rather than an operatic one.
Overall, a decent album for sure, though not as well-produced or unique-sounding as "Ancient Satanic Rituals...". For those who cannot get enough of Hortor or Beeroth, or those who like symphonic black metal more in the vein of Emperor than latter-day Dimmu Borgir, this is a fine choice.
