Strange Horizon - 2022 - Beyond The Strange Horizon

(47:17; Apollon Records)

Track list:
1. Tower of Stone 6:48
2. Fake Templar 4:40
3. The Final Vision 4:27
4. Divine Fear 8:02
5. They Never Knew 5:00
6. Chains of Society 5:16
7. Turning the Corner 3:48
8. Death in Ice Valley 9:16

Line-up:
Stig V. Kviljo - vocals, guitars
Christer S. Lindesteg - bass, vocals
Camilla W. Anfinsen - drums
with:
Björn Ognöy - effects
Andreas D. Nilsen - vocals
Merethe Heggset - vocals


Norwegian band Strange Horizon is a threesome that has been active for a handful of years by now. Following a few years of honing their craft live and writing material, the band is now out with their debut album "Beyond the Strange Horizon" through Norwegian label Apollon Records.

It doesn't take all that long before one fact is established when listening through this album: This is very much a retro-oriented band. And while their stated sources of inspiration are numerous, one name will light up right away just a few seconds into the first song, and that name will be Black Sabbath. While the songs themselves may well have plenty of other influential forces, at least as far as structure and execution is concerned, the guitar sound in particular has Tony Iommi written all over them, and quite a few of the riffs used throughout can  be described in much the same way. So while the songs themselves may well be a bit outside of the box here, the sound, mood and general atmosphere of this production is a big love letter to classic era Black Sabbath.

The use of flowing, melodic guitar solo runs with a bit of a psychedelic touch at times does expand the canvas explored a bit, and fits the music explored very well indeed too, alongside a few cases of more atmospheric laden guitar soloing and some vocal harmony details that fits inside a similar frame of reference.

Strange Horizon will on occasion also hit a more driving stoner metal mode, but maintaining a retro-oriented sound while doing so, and in one case they do sound like what I'd imagine would be the result if classic era Black Sabbath covered a future song by Queens of the Stone Age. And in a similar more modern goes retro context, we also get passages and songs here with a more fuzzed out guitar presence that for me invokes associations towards a band like Electric Wizard.

Strange Horizon does have one element to them that takes the album experience a bit more outside the box than the other ones mentioned though, and that is the lead vocals. Vocalist Kviljo has a distinct and theatrical vocal style that will be a hit or a miss for some listeners, with a voice, range and mode of delivery rather similar to the lead vocalist of fellow Norwegian band Tusmörke. For me personally that vocal style is both a hit and a miss on this production, depending on the mood explored as well as the sound and mood of the individual song, and my relative experience as a music fan and music writer indicates to me that this aspect of the album experience may well be a bit divisive for some.

By and large I do find this album to be one that will have a bit more of a niche appeal. Besides the distinct lead vocals being a factor, a requirement for finding this album to be an enjoyable one will be that you have a great deal of passion and interest for the classic era Black Sabbath sound. But for those who find both of these elements enjoyable, and also enjoy bands adding a bit of stoner, psychedelia and modern doom into a retro-sounding Black Sabbath context, this album should be quite the enjoyable trip down the retro metal lane.

Olav M. Björnsen, May 2022

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/strangehorizonbergen
https://www.apollonrecords.no/