The band HYMN was conceived in 2013, in Oslo, Norway, with their self-titled EP "Hymn". Their first full-length album, with six tracks, and nearly fifty minutes long, titled "Perish". They are a Doom-y Metal duo, with the album being released by Svart Records. The cover art is created from tints of white and shades of black, the picture as a whole is the view of a mountain from the clouds.

"Rise" is the second track from the album at a little over twelve minutes. It starts out mellow and the guitar sort of has this gong sound going on, so I hope it's alright to say that it sounded tranquil. It then has this in-between time where there will are moments of heavy and quick guitar playing, but it alternates between a soft, slower playing. The alternating lasts until 7:17 where it then becomes very calm and I'm reminded of that saying "the calm before the storm", because the calmness is about a good minute before it REALLY takes off. At this point it escalates in speed and ends pretty decent, actually. Guess they don't call it "Rise" for nothing.

"Serpent" is probably my favourite song so far, it has a cleaner guitar sound playing along with the crunchier guitar which gives it zing. The drumming and guitar are perfectly in sync, the amount of cymbal usage is good, and the transitioning is perfect. "Perish", I like how it starts out with somewhat of a cleaner guitar and a distinct tapping on a cymbal then jumps into a heavier guitar at twenty-one seconds in. At 2:47 there is what almost sounds like a loose string being plucked but it sounds really cool as an effect for the song. I dig it. There is this effect closer to the end of the song that sounds like when a guitar has been plugged into an older amp, an electronic squeal of sorts, that they have controlled. Normally that sound is a jump to the amp and lower the volume sound, but they pulled it off pretty well. It actually sounds interesting to the ears, definitely good control and I commend them for that.

There was something missing in "Perish", and I don't mean more band members. First of all, you have to give them props for being a two-man band and pouring as much energy and passion into this album as they did. You can definitely tell there was a lot of it. I also realized, the cover art was fitting for what was to be expected in the music. They reached incredible heights like the clouds, or the mountain, and did a fantastic job for a first album. However, for their future album, I am hoping for more effects.