Horde (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Horde


Background = group_or_band
Origin = Australia
Genre = Unblack metal
Years_active = 1994
2007
Label = Nuclear Blast Records
Rowe Productions
Veridon Music
Associated_acts = Mortification
Paramaecium
Drottnar
URL =
Current_members = Jayson Sherlock

Horde is the single-album Christian black metal project of Australian musician Jayson Sherlock, formerly of Mortification and Paramaecium. The project was active in 1994, when the only album "Hellig Usvart" was released on Nuclear Blast, and in 2007, when the 'band' performed its only liveshow in Oslo, Norway. "Hellig Usvart" proved to be a seminal release for the Christian black metal movement, and the album was highly controversial in the secular black metal scene at the time it was released.

History

Sherlock recorded one album, "Hellig Usvart" ("Holy Unblack") under the pseudonym "Anonymous" (a possible play on "Euronymous", Mayhem guitaristcite web |author= |title=MusikkOpp-ned oppnedkors! |publisher= Oslonett |date=1995-02-06|work= Morgenbladet |url= http://www.oslo.net/historie/MB/utg/9521/kultur/13.html |accessdate=2007-12-19|language=Norwegian ] ) and it was released on Nuclear Blast Records in 1994, followed by a later re-release on Rowe Productions. The title "Hellig Usvart" is Norwegian, a fact which led many to believe, while Sherlock was still anonymous, that Horde originated from Norway, a fact backed up by the poor production quality on the album, considered to be a trademark of Norwegian black metal. [cite web |url= http://unblack.d135-1r43.de/hordeint/hordeinterview.html |title=Horde Interview |accessdate=2007-12-09|author= Erasmus |date=2006 |work= |publisher= Unblack.de ]

Upon the initial release of "Hellig Usvart", a publicity campaign was launched throughout the black metal community, revolving around Sherlock being credited as "Anonymous". Unsuccessful death-threats were given to Markus Staiger at Nuclear Blast to reveal the identity of the anonymous musician who had created the album, although the identity of the musician was later revealed as Jayson Sherlock. Horde as an entity also received death threats for being a Christian band playing black metal. Upon original release in 1994, 4,000 copies of the album were printed. In 1999 Rowe Productions purchased all remaining copies and distributed them world-wide. The album has since been re-released on this label with an additional track entitled, "My Heart Doth Beseech Thee (O Master)". The album is difficult to come by and sought after by many. [cite web |author=EvilVasp |title=Horde - Hellig Usvart |publisher= Open Publishing |date=|work= Necromancy |url= http://www.geocities.com/vasp_1999/Horde.htm |accessdate=2007-12-19 ]

Listen
filename=Horde - Invert the Inverted Cross.ogg
title="Invert the Inverted Cross"
description=Sample of "Invert the Inverted Cross" by Horde, from the album "Hellig Usvart" (1994).
format=Ogg"Hellig Usvart" pioneered the previously unheard of genre of "Christian black metal" (sometimes referred to as "Holy UnBlack Metal"); since its release bands such as Dark Endless (also a black metal band with one anonymous member), Crimson Moonlight and Antestor have emerged as proponents of Christian black metal. The album is satirical of the satanic black metal scene in that it twists common black metal phrases into a Christian ideal. The message of the album is generally the destruction and rejection of Satan, in favour of God. There is also direct and indirect praise of God throughout the record. Horde's music is mostly simple, dark and very fast driving unblack metal-style with high pitch shrieking or growling vocals. Some songs such as "Invert the Inverted Cross" utilise double-bass drum work to drive the song. Keyboards are sprinkled in throughout the album as well and appear on such tracks as "Release and Clothe the Virgin Sacrifice". [cite web |author=Morrow, Matt |title=Horde - Hellig Usvart |publisher= Open Publishing |date=|work= The Whipping Post |url= http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/hordehelligusvart/ |accessdate=2007-12-19 ]

Horde gave their first and only live performance at Nordic Fest in Oslo, Norway on November 3, 2006, with Jayson Sherlock as drummer and vocalist and with help from three members of the Christian black metal band Drottnar.

Discography

Albums

*"Hellig Usvart" - (1994)
*"Alive in Oslo" - (2007)
*"The Day of Total Armageddon Holocaust" - (2007)

References

Notes

External links

* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=3387 Horde] at Metal-Archives
* [http://www.soundmass.com/rowe/frames_index.htm Rowe Productions]
* [http://ghashul.dk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6775 Pictures from the only Horde concert ever at Nordic Fest]