A fine record for anyone who enjoys meaty riffs, searing vocals and warm production.
"I don't think any album has screamed out your name at me as much as this one". These were the fateful words of our Reviews Ed when he sent me this record by Swedish quintet Horisont. A bold claim, one that could potentially backfire, but after hitting play I could see exactly where he was coming from.
I wasn't familiar with the band's prior output; this, Horisont's sixth studio effort, was my first encounter with them. While I have fairly eclectic taste in music, a large portion of my collection features Classic Rock, particularly from the seventies and eighties, and 'The Hive' employs a very seventies vibe with its retro production, throbbing bass and Ian Gillan-like shrieks. 'Electrical' is another fine seventies-flavoured effort, this time drawing upon the influence of Blue Öyster Cult, and the acoustic interlude of 'Letare' brings to mind Led Zeppelin before the band kick in and the Ozzy Osbourne-esque vocal brings it more into the realm of Black Sabbath meeting Ram Jam.
The band don't stop there, with 'Night Line' having a Status Quo-like rhythm and a Thin Lizzy-style guitar line, and the high pitched wail of 'Boston Gold' cunningly weaves a Sci-Fi synth in amongst the fiery guitar work. 'Hungry Love' is another tour-de-force of stratospheric vocals, with vocalist Axel spanning the range of Gillan and channelling The Darkness' front-man Justin Hawkin's histrionics for good measure.
With a look as retro as their sound, Horisont are a walking celebration of everything that was good about the seventies. They wear their influences on their sleeves and don't try to be too clever or too original. They want to celebrate one of the greatest decades of Rock music there ever has been and 'About Time' is a fine record for anyone who enjoys meaty riffs, searing vocals and warm production. This release is certainly authentic and enjoyable.
James Gaden