ALBUM REVIEW: Mohngang – Horn

Led by Nerrath, German atmospheric black metal outfit HORN has had a staggering run in the underground. The newest offering, Mohngang, is the project’s eighth record in just fifteen years and follows on from 2017’s incredible Turm am Hang, a masterpiece of the genre. Now back with 10 tracks of glorious, atmospheric misery, can the one-man project continue to establish HORN as one of the premier names in atmospheric black metal? 

Atmospheric with a capital ‘A’, opening track Einleitung – Der Wettlauf zum Meer is a sorrowful introductory piece, immediately building an ominous vibe with its use of wind samples and a heartbreaking cello. After that tragic opening, Satt scheint der Sud der Tat wastes no time in crashing in with some beautiful folk-heavy black metal, the verses eviscerating while the chorus has a huge, festival-friendly feel, complete with folkly, cleanly sung vocals and a few obligatory “Woah“‘s toward the end of the track that would get even the least receptive audience involved in some crowd participation. De står her somsletta takes a much more traditional black metal route, lighter on the folk elements with its barbaric approach and wonderful traditional heavy metal grooves, setting itself as a clear highlight early on.

Progressing toward the mid-way point of Mohngang, HORN open Wär nicht Traubhagel with the questionable use of folkly horns, drawing images to the mind of the First World War, before driving into dark riffwork and the barked vocals of Nerrath. The classical influence returns once more, but in a more subtle fashion, instead lifting the atmosphere of Wär nicht Traubhagel to a new height. At points the folk metal elements come over a tad too strong, the party-folk, drinking-song rhythms clashing with the abrasive black metal assault, rather than working with it – an issue that arises more than once with Mohngang.

HORN makes up for Wär nicht Traubhagel‘s misstep immediately with Handkreis und Chor, another clear highlight from Mohngang. Opting for a more traditional atmospheric black metal approach, Handkreis und Chor is simultaneously soaringly heroic, misery-drenched and aggressive in the most black of fashions. There’s some lovely rhythmic changes and grooves in the latter half of the song that really make it a memorable piece, before Upstream Canals, a Ship’s Bell Sounds brings a truly melancholy into play. Narrath‘s use of cleanly sung vocals works as a lovely juxtaposition to his barked growls and screams, while the lead work creates a sense of melody that transports you to a much grimmer reality. This one-two punch of Handkreis und Chor into Upstream Canals, a Ship’s Bell Sounds is perhaps one of the strongest sections of the album, and an excellent display of how strong HORN can be when firing on all cylinders.

Instrumental interlude Dulcimerstück doesn’t land with quite the same weight, however. There’s some really nice composition there, but the guitars are a little too jangly to enhance the atmosphere of Mohngang, again coming as a bit of a folk-driven misstep. However, as has happened every time HORN have gone a little too medieval-reenactment, Vom Tribock hohl geschossen is a ferocious return to form with some classic black metal brutality and the dark, sombre atmosphere the band do best. The final original track on Mohngang, Ødegård und Pendelschlag, continues this strength, sounding almost ritualistic in places while delivering classic black metal grooves and reinforcing the dark, pagan atmosphere of Mohngang wonderfully with a far more balanced mix of black and folk. Finally, to round off the record, HORN have a beautiful treat for us, delivering a new version of Die mit dem Bogen auf dem Kreuz from Turm am Hang. This time around, a cello quartet and piano deliver a mournful, heart-wrenching fare, and a true highlight of HORN‘s discography.

HORN are one of the most prolific names in the underground of atmospheric, pagan black metal, and its easy to see why. Throughout Mohngang, Narreth showcases a wonderful ability to transport the listener to the furthest reaches of their imagination. Despite a few missteps where the folk elements of Mohngang take on a more trivial sound, this is a worthy addition to the project’s back catalogue.

Rating: 7/10

Mohngang is set for release May 15th via Iron Bonehead Productions. 

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