Review AUDREY HORNE „Achilles“

Bergen, Norway, is known for the colorful wooden houses along its harbor, seemingly endless rain, great rock music and plenty of crushing metal. When it comes to music, Bergen certainly has nothing to prove to the Norwegian capital, Oslo. One band that has made its mark on the city’s musical landscape is Audrey Horne. Toschie, Kjetil, Arve, and Thomas formed the band in 2002, while Espen Lien has been handling bass duties since 2012.

The band’s debut album arrived in 2005, but it was their second record, Le Fol, that really served as the springboard for Audrey Horne. Since then, the band has continued to deliver a steady stream of quality albums. Four years after the release of Devil’s Bell, Achilles is now hitting record stores. And it’s safe to say that the five Norwegians are once again putting their faith in hard rock, while adding a variety of influences to give their sound some extra depth.

The album features eleven new songs, and our journey through Audrey Horne’s world of hard rock begins with the title track. Clocking in at more than five minutes, “Achilles” is one of the longer songs on the record and immediately reveals the band’s slightly more progressive side. While the track contains all the trademarks you would expect from Audrey Horne, it also moves through atmospheric passages and unexpected twists that show just how much the band can create within their established sound. Lyrically, “Achilles” is an anti-war song, and considering how fragile the world feels these days, the title works particularly well as a metaphor.

“In the Eye of the Hurricane,” on the other hand, is a more straightforward affair, opening with a strong riff. It’s a pulsating rocker that occasionally brings the Scorpions to mind—not only because of the title. Still, this is unmistakably an Audrey Horne song, drawing plenty of inspiration from the ’80s without simply sounding like a throwback.

The stomping, slightly slower “Vampires” comes next. With its darker atmosphere and excellent chorus, the song is a little gem on the album. The Thin Lizzy influences that have so often been associated with Audrey Horne are particularly apparent on “God Damn Beautiful.” Its satisfying melodic flow gets straight into your ears, while Espen Lien proves that he is not only a great bass player but also a fine vocalist, taking over lead vocals on this track.

“Pretty Little Lies” is an emotionally intense song and a powerful ballad at the same time. Looking at these first five tracks, it becomes clear just how much variety the five Norwegians bring to the table without ever abandoning the basic structure of their sound.

With “Prodrome,” the album also offers a short instrumental that points the way toward “Insanity.” The latter is a direct, energetic rocker that scores with its metal references. It’s a musical shot of adrenaline that is hard not to enjoy—and yes, you might just find yourself grinning before you realize it.

A grooving bass line opens “Hell Is Eternity,” another highlight on the album. It almost seems as if Audrey Horne have been spending some extra time listening to Iron Maiden over the past few months, an influence that becomes even more apparent on the fast-paced “Running Through the Night.”

Lien’s pounding bass also opens “New Star Falling,” the album’s closing track. Once again, Toschie gets the chance to show off his excellent voice. Great melodies, a driving rhythm, and a few touches of ’70s rock form the foundation of “New Star Falling,” bringing Achilles to a fitting conclusion.

With Achilles, Audrey Horne remain true to their musical roots while taking their sound another step forward. The album is rooted in rock, carries a healthy dose of metal power, and offers enough variety to make it a strong addition to the band’s catalog. It grabs your attention right away, yet there are enough details to discover that you’ll want to return to it again and again. The excellent melodies certainly help with that.

Well done, guys.