Well since the release of the album we have given a couple of interviews to metal webzine, we’ve made a lot of new friends from everywhere in this planet and it’s amazing because the HOR friends becoming more and more and we have some new music ideas. Probably we will enter our own studio “HOR Dungeon” to write new music and when we feel OK we will record it in our close friend’s studio Dimon’s night.
2.In November you had released your first album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?
We didn’t have any musical style in our minds when we enter the studio to record it. We adore the Norwegian black metal sound of 90s, so it was quite natural to express ourselves in this way.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored with the music so far?
We read a lot as individuals. One of the main topics that enthuse us is the philosophy of death. So if you read our lyrics you will sense it. We talk about death, we are against of all organized religions and we endure people to do and live as they want and not as they told to do so. Live the best you can and when you feel that the time is right, choose your Exit from this world.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Hor'?
The weird thing is that when we discuss for the band’s name, unanimously we said that we want a name that has to do with God Apollo. Each one of us for different reasons without having discuss it before. From my side the idea came when I was in one of my many visits in Delphi, in his temple. THRONE’s influence was from the temple of Apollo in Ancient Corinth where he resides and gets inspiration very often. Well in few words, we both love to this God that he was the brighter of all but at the same time he could be the evilest and revengeful as it gets. He was the God of Light, patron of arts and oracle and the very same time he was a god of punishment, a warrior, a god who clearly delineates the boundaries between the world of mortals and immortals. Some philosophers said that people even fear to call his name. All these strong contradictions in his character were something that we really like. He had many attributes and one of them was Horos (Ώρος) Apollo. From this attribute we took our name, HOR.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
The artwork is from a great artist with many collaborations with big bands in the past. His name is Nestor Avalos. When we first saw his artwork we said “this is it”. We wanted something that it’s evil, unholy and before you listen to this album you have a taste of what you’re going to listen. The “Unholy Virgin” was the best artwork that we saw at that time so we purchase it. We had a great collaboration with this artist, he is one of the best.
6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding your line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?
Yes, there are only two members and we are not going to add another permanent member in the band. We had bands in the past with three or four members and it sucked. It’s difficult to do your own thing or to try to convince people to be more professional, or to be at least consistent. I believe that in a band if there are a lot of voices …it can’t get far. I believe that two people with the same love for this music, eager to write music, passion to express themselves and similar goals and view for the band’s future, is the best thing that you can have in a band.
7.The band is from Greece but has a different style than most bands from the country, do you feel your music stands out a little bit more in your home country?
Well I don’t really know if the most bands now play the so called Hellenic metal of the 90s. I do not want to be disrespectful to any band but who wants to play like that? I mean there were some great Greek pioneer bands in the 90s that played like that but very few bands were descent or great. When I say few, I mean you can count them in your fingers of your one hand. Most of them of that era you cannot call them black metal. There was a habit in Greece in the 90s where the bands with brutal vocals, rock- power/heavy metal music and a pentagram in the album cover, they call them black metal. We should stop this shit. The true Black metal was played in Norway. I like very few albums of that era of Hellenic Black Metal. Nowadays there are a lot of bands in the Greek underground black metal scene that really play black metal, not that Heavy-rock shit with brutal vocals. We are not fans of that Greek black metal era of the 90s as you see, so even if we stand out from the rest Greek bands we don’t really care. We play what we feel is right for us and how we think black metal should sound.
8.The album was also released on 'Sanit Mils Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
Sanit Mils is a French label and it was also its first black metal release. It released it in LP. Our friend Vangelis the owner of the label did great job and we are very happy with the final result of the whole LP package. We have good co-operation so far. We are happy and lucky I could say because with all the collaborations with all the label owners, we had perfect understanding each other, the same goals and it goes great so far.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
We have great reviews so far from webzines and magazines and fans from all the continents have purchased our album. This is great feeling and we have make many friends from around the globe. We feel really happy because when you express yourself and there are people out there that can feel you, understand what you want to say…it’s a really great gift. You feel that you are not alone in this planet.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We are not here with a tendency to “re-invent the wheel”. We play black metal because this is a way to express ourselves. No one knows what future will bring and what this Journey will offer to us. The only sure is that we will keep playing Black Metal as long as we feel honest with ourselves and our friends.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
It’s obvious that the sound of Norwegian Black metal sound has a huge influence to us but I really cannot name one specific band. As a person I do not want to imitate a band. The truth is that we cannot do it…If we try to imitate a band we will not be honest with ourselves. We play what it came out from our souls naturally. We love Norwegian Black Metal sound of 90s but I cannot name any specific influence from a specific band.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I really want to thank you for this interview and all the people who have support us so far. Thank you.
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