HORRIFIED – In The Garden Of The Unearthly Delights

In some very strange way, most Greek bands face a lot of problems when they try to build their reputation in the local Metal scene. This is mainly due to the fact that the native record labels are too weak to support them when it comes to sound production and promotion. This has made the Greek Metalheads distrustful about new releases from their fellow countrymen, bringing some notable bands in a dead end.

The above unlucky situation applies to the band Horrified that is “the most underrated band,” as stated in the promo sheet. Indeed, the band was formed in the early 90s when they released the demo Prophecy of Gore. By that time, most of the new Greek bands were into Black Metal, while Horrified were moving towards Death Metal territory. The success of the aforementioned demo tape in the Underground Metal scene gave Horrified the opportunity to sign their first record deal with a local label, named Black Power Records. The next step was the release of a 12″ EP Eternal God and 7″ EP The Ancient Whisper of Wisdom. 1993 was an important year for the band since their debut full-length release saw the light of the day under the title In the Garden of the Unearthly Delights. Even though they got positive feedback and a chance to build a strong fan base, the band decided to split up!

After a four year interval, the band returned with another album, Animal, under the protection of a new record label named Black Lotus Records. This release brought Horrified back in the Metal scene. Performing live, they supported bands like Sodom and Manowar. Deus Diabolus Inversus is the band’s latest release that includes a vocal guest appearance by Michael Akerfeldt (Opeth) and was mixed at the famous Fredman studio in Sweden.

Black Lotus Records decided that it was time to reintroduce the band by releasing their debut album with a remastered sound and some bonus tracks from the hard to find EPs.

The album starts with an atmospheric intro, “The Awakening,” that incorporates some experimental avant-garde sounds, taking into account that the album was originally released in 1993. Horrified’s intention was to create a unique sound by combining a Black and Death Metal approach to their music. This can heard in “Elisaph” that includes a slow, yet heavy tempo, creating a solid Dark atmosphere. “Early Dawn Enraged” is faster, with some melodic guitar riffs and compact drumwork. The band’s experimental intentions are first met in “Crawling Silence,” with female operatic vocals and keyboard sounds that remind of Therion’s work during the Lemuria era. The band starts to path their own way, making short stops in Doom Metal territory with “Down at the Valley the Great Encounter” and “Dying Forest,” while keeping a Dark Metal direction that is even more enhanced with the addition of some flute sounds and female arias.

After the one-minute instrumental, “Baptized in Venereal Blood,” the dreadful sound journey continues creating gloomy pictures with “Poetry of War” and “Unbridled God,” where it’s impossible for someone to define the boundaries between Death and Black Metal.

“Dancing Next to Dying Souls” is an instrumental that closes the In the Garden of the Unearthly Delights album, being another fine example of Horrified’s experimental mood with some ancient Greek music additions. “Seperial Dominion” and “Astral Submersion” sound rawer with a rough production, since they come from the The Ancient Whisper of Wisdom EP. The Eternal God EP is next, with the keyboard intro “Beyond the Chaos” that takes the listener to “Eternal God” and “Altars of the Abyss,” allowing the listener to hear how the band made their first music steps with a Thrashier and straightforward approach. “Etah Morena” is an instrumental that makes the connection to the present days since it comes from the latest Horrified album, Deus Diabolus Inversus, with a clear and powerful sound production by the hands of Fredrik Nordstrom at the Fredman Studios.

This release is a fine way for someone to make an acquaintance of the slow moving, yet noticeable, Greek Metal scene with a band that can be considered a part of its history.