Horrid
Beyond The Dark Border
(Dunkelheit Produktionen)
Beyond The Dark Border is not just the title of Horrid’s fifth record, it’s an apt summation of its overall tone and theme as well. Without doubt, this is the kind of music you march into battle with understanding it’s kill or be killed. Songs such as “The Black March,” “Demonic Challenge,” and the title track itself, weave tales of darkness and despair, doom and gloom, hammered into an aural entity so heavy, so scary, it may be too much for even death metal to handle. Think about that when you listen to track four, “The Eyes of Terror,” enduring the screams of lead singer Dagon, anguishing, as if lost in eternal damnation, begging, “…save me! save me!”
“Black March,” the record’s opener, is heavy beyond heavy, and not to sound too cliché, it’s an off the chart monster that exemplifies everything metal, and then some. It doesn’t take long to realize the chemistry this lineup has is amazing and it shines through in how tight they sound start to finish. That tightness is a sign of a band that’s been around the block and shows marked progression in both songwriting and style of music. There’s not a bum song on this disc; Horrid is at the top of their game here.
Horrid have been honing their metal skills for nearly three decades with an extensive discography to prove it. Beyond The Dark Border is a musical weapon forged of cold steel that could very well provide the jumping off point this band needs to make it into the same conversation as Deicide or Obituary. This record deserves a spot on every fan, and critics, end of year top ten list, for sure.
