HÅN is a black metal band from Switzerland that formed in 2009. "Conquering Magnificent Halls " is their third full length album; they also have a demo. "Conquering Magnificent Halls" is an album that immediately grabbed the moment I first pushed play. The production certainly helps with that. The songs are presented inside an harrowing atmosphere that is filled by unnerving urgency. Despite this tone of pure void, the mix allows each infinite detail of darkness to shine through. The bass is especially vibrant—it absolutely slaps while driving the bleakness alongside the fast, crisp drumming.

Musically, it is as fast and fully driven as expected but there are actual riffs and song structures instead of the same thing over and over. The way the band balances heavier elements amongst more melodic tones is a sign of their expert craftsmanship, a delicate touch to the songs that are anything but. The album begins with “Qyntlatl” and very quickly sets a fast, razor sharp tempo against throaty blackened wails and riffs that flirt around the edges of melody without going overboard. The drums and bass keep everything firm and tight but expansive enough to let the song breathe on its own.

“Zucht ohne Ordnung” is even faster, the song going hard alongside the grain of a haunting presence and the sudden but appreciated clean guitar, which adds a sort of odd elegance to the song. The last moments of the song are a furious blitzkrieg that ends in another round of clean guitar. “Finstrer Haufen” has a groove that is so infectious that is almost fun. Crazy, right? Almost as crazy as how great the rest of the song is. The rolling drums push the other instruments along, creating a song that is a whirlpool of riffs and blackened barks. The first three minutes or so of the song retain this style of melodic romp before turning completely rabid for the latter half.

The final song is “Levitating Flames” and it is indeed an absolute scorcher of a track and an explosive way to end the album, although it does have its melodic moments. But just like every other element of the album, these pieces fit together in the greater scheme of the overall album perfectly. The later half becomes a melancholic dirge that grows back into ferocious waters once more. 2023 has featured many, many great black metal albums. For this second half of the year, “Conquering Magnificent Halls” has been one of the better ones, especially if you like black metal that is both atmospheric and powerful, without being too abstract or raw.