Horde (band)

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Horde is the single-album Christian project of Australian musician Jayson Sherlock, formerly of Mortification and Paramaecium. Sherlock recorded one album, "Hellig Usvart" (Holy Unblack) under the pseudonym "Anonymous" (a possible play on "Euronymous," the infamous Mayhem guitarist) and it was released on Nuclear Blast Records in 1994, followed by a later re-release on Rowe Productions. The title "Hellig Usvart" is Norwegian, a fact which led many to believe, while Sherlock was still anonymous, that Horde originated from Norway, a fact backed up by the poor production quality on the album, considered to be a trademark of Norwegian black metal.

Upon the initial release of Hellig Usvart, a publicity campaign was launched throughout the black metal community, revolving around Sherlock being credited as "Anonymous". Unsuccessful death-threats were given to Mark Staiger at Nuclear Blast to reveal the identity of the anonymous musician who had created the album, although the identity of the musician was later revealed as Jayson Sherlock. Horde as an entity also received death threats for being a Christian band playing black metal.^{[citation needed]} Upon original release in 1994, 4,000 copies of the album were printed. In 1999 Rowe Productions purchased all remaining copies and distributed them world-wide. The album has since been re-released on this label with an additional track entitled, "My Heart Doth Beseech Thee (O Master)". The album is difficult to come by and sought after by many.

Hellig Usvart pioneered the previously unheard of genre of "Christian black metal" (sometimes referred to as HUBM - "Holy UnBlack Metal"); since its release bands such as Dark Endless (also a black metal band with one anonymous member), Crimson Moonlight [1] and Antestor [2] have emerged as proponents of Christian black metal. The album is satirical of the satanic black metal scene in that it twists common black metal phrases into a Christian ideal. The message of the album is generally the destruction and rejection of Satan, in favour of God. There is also direct and indirect praise of God throughout the record. Horde's music is mostly simple, dark and very fast driving unblack metal-style with high pitch shrieking or growling vocals. Some songs such as Invert the Inverted Crossutilise double-bass drum work to drive the song. Keyboards are sprinkled in throughout the album as well and appear on such tracks as Release and Clothe the Virgin Sacrifice.

Horde gave one live performance at Nordic Fest in Oslo, 3. November, 2006, with Jayson Sherlock as drummer and vocalist and with help from three mysterious musicians.