Review by SzejkElRopa on July 3, 2026.

"Where are you heading to on holiday?" I frequently ask my colleagues. "Oh, thanks for asking! I am going to visit Greece" - they at times respond. Well, I cannot say their choice is by any means bad. Beautiful buildings, delicious food, beaches - there is almost everything one might need to have a fantastic vacation. However, lurking in the darkest corners of this country, there is a group of people these vacation-goers probably don't know and won't like to know about. They seem indifferent to everything their homeland has to offer; instead, they channel bitterness, hatred, and despair into their music. Fortunately, they do not lack talent. One of the examples is a trio playing under the name Hor.

First thing I noticed is the vocals - they are very high in the mix, which immediately conjured up other Greek acts such as Insanity Cult or Sørgelig that also have this. Another similarity with these bands is the atmosphere, because it is ritualistic and executed almost perfectly. A prime example of this is the second song - "Into Great Nothing". While the previous one - "Reborn In Scorn" didn't make me love (maybe that is the wrong word in this type of music) the album, the next one surely did. It starts with a ferocious, absolutely hateful outburst of vocals, which is combined with blastbeats; however, this is suddenly stopped by the sound of a church bell. Following that, a melody kicks in. Both the bell and the melody make this song sound as though one were descending into the titular nothingness. Furthermore, with a little slowdown, the melody turns into more hopeless, making the song more introspective. The vocals work perfectly with the music and excellently convey emotions. Surprisingly, that's not enough, because after some time, another pause happens, and the voice speaking, probably in Greek, appears. Shortly afterwards, a slower section can be heard. I was (and still am) in awe of the little bass solo, which is, in my opinion, the peak of the song. It is equally emotional as the aforementioned melody.

Okay, enough ranting about one song. Surely, this album isn't only about this, right? Fortunately, it isn't, because "III" has other highlights. While the album isn't inconsistent in style, one cannot say that songs blend into each other, although some sections, especially the faster ones, sound slightly similar. "Prometheus Unbound", for instance, is a more aggressive piece of music, moving at a fast pace most of the time, and is driven by headbanging, furious riffs. On the whole, the bass work deserves praise because it is audible most of the time, and certainly adds more depth to the music. To provide one example, the beginning of "In Deathless Light...I Reign!" has an especially audible bass guitar. The whole album alternates between hateful moments and the more melodic ones. It is like a chaotic journey through the darkest corners of the soul. Apart from the misanthropic elements, there is also some place for tragedy. Fortunately, these emotions always work with the music. Noteworthy is the one at the end of "Ecce Mortuus", because its execution, combined with the depressing vocals, is absolutely great. The remaining songs also contain plenty of well-crafted moments, which enhance the emotional impact, without any of them definitely dominating. Lastly, I would like to point out the rapid melodies in "Stellar Silent Tomb," which I believe are yet another highlight of the album, lending it a tragic feel. Although "III" lasts only a little longer than 37 minutes, listing every moment I liked is quite futile because it would eventually become boring. By no means boring is the drumwork, though, because infamous Ungod definitely shows some proficiency in that field - he doesn't play the same thing over and over, and he undoubtedly contributes to the good quality of the album. His usage of a wide range of cymbals, as well as moments when the album slowed down and he used the bass drum, were, in my opinion, the best.

Well, all ot this I have written will not convince any normal person to listen to Hor; nevertheless, enthusiasts of abnormal music should pay Greece a visit. "III" is a fantastic album that shows not only primitive, raw emotions, but also maturity and great musicianship. The only thing I would wish for is that all tracks were as great as "Into Great Nothing" - in that case, this album would be absolutely perfect. As that's not the case, I give it 9/10. Recommended for the fans of old-school, aggressive black metal with a ritualistic sound.

Rating: 9 out of 10