Commenting on a genre as divisive and controversial as black metal runs many risks, though as a genuine fan perhaps I am partially shielded from backlash (doubtful!). From our contemporary standpoint the low-fi recording, over-the-top stage theatrics and full-blown satanic, anti-religious tendencies have more than a hint of ALICE COOPER about them. So, when you hear an album like "Horda" it feels distinctly like an attempt to turn back the clock on black metal and pretend that the past thirty years of evolution and (in places, significant) development didn't happen. The standards of recording on display would be familiar to early black metal acts, however by contemporary standards are hopelessly antiquated - though I will admit the band's efforts to press cassette tapes of this album are legitimately adorable, if perhaps a tragic waste of time.

The urge to seek out a 'period-authentic' black metal low-fi recording sound (think very early MAYHEM or SEPULTURA) makes sense. But this was largely due to lack of access to quality gear back in the day. In the era of widely available, digital and affordable gear there simply is no excuse for this. Furthermore, the occasional sprinkling of (comparatively) clean keyboard usage simply draws further attention to the rawness of the guitar and vocal recording. I'm not even convinced there's a "so bad it's good" argument to be made here.

Having said that, I would not wish to seem guilty of trashing this band out of hand - that's not what I'm about. There are a few moments here that come perilously close to the genuinely delightful and dissonance that characterises the very best black metal. Nidhogg's vocals achieve more of a pained shriek than the classic snarl associated with many black metal acts, though it certainly fits with the mood set.

"Wnyk" and "Horda" are largely uninspired tracks that fail to really set the scene for the rest of the album, setting expectations low. Compared to some of the other tracks, these are not the best. "Horda" approaches interesting with a vaguely death 'n' roll-esque riff late in the track but the song ends before it can be meaningfully developed.

"Echo" then follows - an out of place ambient track that seems to simply break the flow of the album before it really has a chance to get going. "Miecz Na Pomazanca" features rather more sophisticated riffage than the first two songs but is largely offset by a floor tom sounds that, due again to the poor recording, makes me thing someone in steel-toed boots is trying to kick in my subwoofer... from the inside.

"Demon" is, frankly, a bizarre track that runs like many of the other tracks for a little over eight minutes before disappearing into another out of place dirge-ridden, ambient daydream that lasts for a further eight uninteresting minutes. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with keyboards in black metal but, as with "Echo", the contrast is simply too dramatic and thus interrupts the flow.

Half-way through "Sic Luceat Lux" we have our first blast-beat which, on a black metal album, seems an astonishing time to wait (well towards the end of the album). Unfortunately, as with many other aspects of the album, the poor recording causes issues here - the dynamic range here is totally squashed flat by the sheer loudness that results. It's a real assault on the ears, and not in a good way. We then again disappear into a brief death 'n' roll interlude which dabbles with some legitimately playful timings. The bass is heard audibly for the first (and as far as I could tell only) time on the album before a vocal reverb fade-out that is borderline deafening.

"Smierc Protestanckim Kurwom" features a riff that definitely reminded me of 'Am I Evil?' and was, therefore, thoroughly enjoyable... that is, until we are deafened once again by a double bass sound that simply smothers pretty much everything else going on.

In "Sploniesz" we conclude with a third dreary and out of place ambient track - three ambient filler tracks on an eight-track black metal album just feels lazy to me, but I suppose it's a matter of taste. I feel like there's some maturing and development to take place for these two musicians - they need to find both something to say and a creative way to say it. As it stands it sounds as though Louve and Nidhogg are still figuring out where they are going with this. I don't think many bands crack it the first or second time around, so there's no reason to think that Wilczyca won't find their feet and carve out their niche. If recurring themes are anything to go by, perhaps we can expect a more black 'n' roll sound in future ventures!