Norwegian band HAN, (meaning "scorn" in English), hails from Switzerland. They were founded in 2009 and have ever-since been active, releasing a self-produced full-length in 2016 and bringing mayhem to numerous stages with their raw, in-your-face blasphemy, supporting major Black Metal acts across Europe. "Breathing the Void" is the band's second full-length album, and contains nine songs.

"Intro" leads off the album. It's a seven-minute song. There is a long build-in before the sound drops to nothing...an odd way to start off an album for sure. "Breathing the Void" is equal in length. In addition to the guitars, drums and vocals, you can also hear bass guitar in the mix. It has a fairly standard Black Metal sound for me that doesn't venture out much from the forefathers of the genre. Maybe it's the way the tracks were zipped, but there is again a long period of silence at the end of the track.

"Olethrus" confirms that each track is of equal length, so this was a problem with the promo. Raging, intense passages of guitars, vocals and drums spread throughout the land. It is both raw and unrelenting. "Enter an Eternal World" features that same level of intensity. At this point in an album, you are either going to hear some diversity, or you are not. It's clear that they have chosen the later, and want to stay true to the roots of the genre. "Goatman" features a slower opening pace, with tones of sadness. But, the vile notes and fast paced attack comes shortly thereafter.

"Asterion" sounds nearly exactly like the other tracks. Thick, raging vocals and guitars, bass and drums pound away at you, pummeling you from all sides. "Dissent" is a little slower in length but with no less intensity. I am actually a little surprised at Northern Silence Productions taking on this band. They normally are full of Atmospheric and/or Melodic Black Metal bands. This album is more in the founding fathers realm of things. "Lost Souls" opens with bass guitar notes and guitars more in the background. It's the first real taste of diversity we get, but it's soon obliterated by the raging, but somewhat melodic, guitars.

"Salvation" closes the album, beginning with a totally unexpected sound. Here, the riff is choppy and more traditional, instead of the wall of sound you normally get in Black Metal. Overall, as I mentioned, there just isn't much in the way of diversity here. It's a true-to-the-roots slab of Black Metal with very little variation, except for the last track, where they brought in some different sounds every now and again. There is just not much to get excited about here.