Hell United - HornoKracy

HELL UNITED - HornoKracy (LILITH Productions CD 2008)

Recently I’ve learned that Hell United split up, which is a fuckin shame, I have to say, because I definitely liked their music a lot. I hoped that there will be another album after "Aura Damage"... Now I know there won't be, so maybe it's a good opportunity to come back to "HornoKracy", their 2008 debut, released just couple of years after the split up of Eclypse and formation of Hell United. 

This album has two parts: first is the proper new material, which includes six songs. And then there's the second part, which is Hell United's 2007 demo "Extra-Strength of the Obscure" in its entirety. On both of these recordings Hell United blasts like fuckin insane beast. Most of their music is ferocious, aggressive and fast death / black metal, which seeks for absolute destruction. Definitely of the two parts, songs 1-6, so the proper part of "HornoKracy" is the better. This material is killer. While there's nothing wrong with the demo and its very harsh, even more violent and beastly music, newer songs are just better in every aspect, starting with the production, ideas, arrangements, riffs or performance. Of course, it is very focused on fast paced, blasphemous stuff - when "Eucharistik Masochism" opens the album, its sheer power and intensity immediately catches attention! But there's always something interesting going on, Hell United incorporated many nice different parts, like slower riff, breaks, leads or whatever, that it just doesn’t sound boring, but a bit diverse and more interesting. At times, especially in those slower parts ("God Father Goat Father" especially) they do remind me Behemoth's death metal period a bit. Other time there's a bit of Belphegor similarities, or Vital Remains, Krisiun or just the good old Morbid Angel. But it's secondary what bands they can sometimes remind me though, the music speaks for itself, in my opinion! I'm not sure if that intensity and maniacal, chaotic slaughter will speak to everyone, it's not a nice music to listen to while doing dishes. So, if you're wimp, stay away. But let me just mention "In the Name of Hellfire" for being the only slow song on the whole CD, which is why it is a real standout here. It definitely is the most interesting and my favourite track here. 

From the demo I have to mention "Great Expiatory's Suicide", definitely best song of this material. There are some unique parts there, I like especially how they come up with slower motifs, some melodies. There's still a lot of insane blasts, Hell United is not a band, which can live without it ha! But as overall, this song is very, very well written and played. And that’s it. This is an insane and intense musical experience, closed in 43 minutes of madness. Worth getting, you know? 

Standout tracks: "In the Name of Hellfire", "God Father Goat Father" 

Verdict: 75/100