Album Review: Khors – Where the Word Acquires Eternity

Українська версія рецензії: Daily Metal.

And so, here we are. Despite this discreet, insidious mayhem going on with the pandemic, nothing seems to stop the Ukrainian black metal scene and it’s good to see not everything is falling apart. I mean, Burshtyn and finally this promising new album from Khors, Where the Word Acquires Eternity.

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interviewed the drummer Khaoth to know what we could expect, and it was “a fusion between Return To Abandoned and Night Falls Onto the Front of Ours in of compositions’ structure and atmosphere”.

The first thing I’ve noticed is they indeed took the very tasteful writing and style from Night Falls... artwork again for this album, and there is what would be the following of the “The Fog (…and Grief Still Moans)” with “The Mist (Let This Fog Devour a Snow)” on the tracklist.

As implied, this stands out from what was done in their latest release, that is to say their EP Beyond the Bestial, and has therefore no direct link. But such comparisons are still tempting especially when the impact is definitely not the same. The eponymous song had instantly blown me away the second I first listened to it.

For some reason, I was especially sensitive to the shift of rhythms, which sound generally higher paced, and sharper tones here and there. The opening “Starvation” embodies all these changes. Restless, yet somewhat lively. This influence will carry on all the album long, but the following tracks already spoke to me more.

They reveal a positive flexibility in their tones and progressions.”Blissforsaken” is to me amongst their best finished and complete composition on this album and the most representative of Khors’ new chapter, while “Crystals of the Fall”, more keyboards-oriented, brings a welcomed inspiring impetus. This carries on with “The Sea of My Soul” in a somewhat melancholic mood, more dramatic and diverse approach with a clean-ish voice part, making it to my list of favourite song from Khors, just like “For the Last Time” on Night Falls….

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So Where the Word... really starts well and we are only half-way of it.

Now starts the part I feel matches the most what Khaoth said. The following tracks are enlivened with previous albums traits such as the brief coming back of their signature vigor on “…And Life Shall Harvest One’s Past”. Apart from this, it is a rather discreet feeling that is not always easy to define for sure. The best example of it is “The Mist (Let This Fog Devour a Snow)”, which could be the continuation of “The Fog (…And Grief Still Moans)” strictly title-wise. Every single thing sounded truly familiar to me, especially in the latest part. This is a good mix of both former albums and new.

The final song made me notice another similarity: the general progress of songs within the album. Just like on Beyond the Bestial, the newest tracks came first, then the older influenced ones and last the unique, quieten song which here too, got its video.

As they unveiled the vision and concrete elements from the concept about the “Executed Renaissance” in their hometown Kharkiv, it made “Beneath the Keen Edge of Time” the most eloquent song in this direction so far. The atmosphere and clever evolution gained their special meaning once the context was exposed. And I do hope I could come across more revelations in this kind thanks to the booklet.

Where the Word Acquires Eternity is out on September 15th on Ashen Dominion.

Khors: official | facebook | youtube | bandcamp