Hailing out of Australia, this extreme metal band-project set out to make a spoof of the Norwegian black metal movement. The man behind this unblack metal attack called himself Anonymous (probably a spoof of Mayhem's Euronymous), but later people found out that he was none other than Mortification/Paramæcium ex-member Jayson Sherlock. Nuclear Blast released his only album in 1994, and band boss Markus Staiger is even listed as executive producer in the line-notes. This led to a series of threats towards the label, and an attempt to boycott Nuclear Blast, who now were looked upon as traitors! Funny how people claiming to live a life of anarchy and depravity gets so easily offended!

HELLIG USVART (1994, 2004) ROWE/SOUNDMASS

Being from the homeland of black metal's homeland (arguably of course), Norway, this first Christian effort seems a bit odd. And quite frankly, Mr. Sherlock could have consulted some Norwegian speaking people before he named this album, and wrote some of the stuff in the booklet!! I know it is supposed to be a spoof, but with titles such as "Invert The Inverted Cross" is almost too much, if you ask me. That said though, the music on "Hellig Usvart" speaks for itself. Black metal was not my favorite genre when I first bought this album. It was too noisy for me. But Horde managed to keep it interesting. I'm still no fan of most of the so called old school black metal bands. But "Hellig Usvart" has done nothing but growing on me. I've read lots of reviews and opinions on the internet over the years about this release. It's actually funny to see how even the most "kvlt" and "tr00" black metal fans saying how they like the music, but vomits when they read the lyrics! Some actually claims that this is one of the most true to style old school black metal albums out there! So Anonymous created a cult-classic, and for many years the only black metal album with Christian content that the secular crowd also acknowledged. Now Rowe Productions and Soundmass have released a 10th anniversary edition of this long out of print album. Here we also get treated an additional track, previously only available at a Rowe Productions completion album. Guess my original Nuclear Blast release won't sell for 80$ on eBay now.......

Killer tracks: Thine Hour Hast Come, Drink From The Chalice Of Blood, Invert The Inverted Cross, An Abandoned Grave Bathes Softly In The Falling Moonlight, Weak, Feeble And Dying Antichrist

As it turns out, I was dead wrong about this being a spoof of any sort. This is parts of an official statement from Jayson himself:

"I really loved the raw dark sound coming from Norway at the time, Immortal, Darkthrone etc... and I thought, how are these dudes ever going to find out about the Truth? So I prayed and definitely felt a strong calling to record an album that sounded just like that, only, with positive, Christ centered lyrics. Thus Horde was born, and 'Hellig Usvart' (Holy Unblack) was written in 6 months and recorded in a week. The word 'unblack' was chosen to describe the fact that it was not black, it was holy, not black metal. Quite simply, a light in the darkness. No joke, no parody, just some hope for a dark black void of a scene. End of story. If anyone misinterpreted this as humorous, then you sadly missed the whole point. Furthermore I don't believe that Horde started a genre, there were similar bands, even in Norway, before Horde was even thought of. They simply developed their black sound over the course of time. 'Hellig Usvart' was unique, and there are no plans to do a follow up. I believe it has served it's purpose, and many people have been positively impacted by it, and for this I am eternally grateful."

Related artists:

Mortification, Paramæcium