Here's another retro '70s influenced band from Sweden (yeah, we are saying that a lot lately!) called Horisont, with their sophomore release Second Assault. These guys cite their influences as Black Sabbath, UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Scorpions, but you can also hear some Cream, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, King Crimson, and Wishbone Ash in their music. Though some will easily say that Horisont sound a bit like fellow Swedes Graveyard and Witchcraft, and to an extent they do, I think this band relies less on the doom aspect and goes for a more hard rock & psych feel than those two acts.
Quite a few of the tracks here have that proto metal element going for it, and I think that the Scorpions debut Lonesome Crow was a big influence on this band. "Crusaders of Death" and "Road to Cairo" both mix the hard rock and psych that was so prevalent on that classic album, and the vocals here sound a bit like a young Klaus Meine. "Time Warrior" rocks and rocks hard, and "On the Run" features some hefty bass grooves and layers of guitar riffs. "Watch Them Die" has an almost Grand Funk Railroad vibe going on, while the title track signals the arrival of the heaviest riffs on the album, a must hear for fans of Black Sabbath and Pentagram. Tasty riffs and wah-wah solos permeate "Spirit", and "Things I've Seen" again brings to mind early Scorpions, with high pitched vocals and solos that remind of the legendary Michael Schenker. "Hard Bargain" is a like a meeting of Deep Purple & Nazareth, and features some biting blues rock solos and heavy, speedy riffs. The band saves their most adventurous piece for last, the raucous "Thunderflight". Prog fans should love this one, a complex barnburner with fat bass grooves and intricate guitar passages, with high pitches vocals soaring to the heavens.
Enjoyable stuff here on Second Assault, as Horisont show they are another solid act partaking in some serious '70s sounds. I would have liked a little extra crunch or distortion on some of the riffs, but I can totally dig the vibe that the band is going for and look forward to hearing more from them in the near future.
Track Listing
01. Time Warrior
02. Road To Cairo
03. Crusaders Of Death
04. On The Run
05. Watch Them Die
06. Second Assault
07. Spirit
08. Things I've Seen
09. Hard Bargain
10. Thunderflight
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