Biography
KHORS is one of the most significant bands hailing from Ukraine. Experienced musicians of the Ukrainian underground metal scene created the band in August 2004 in Kharkiv.
The first musicians’ steps were reflected on their debut album “The Flame of Eternity's Decline” that was released by the Ukrainian label Oriana Music in spring of 2005. The first edition was sold out within a few months. Musically, the band performed mid tempo Atmospheric Pagan Black Metal. Later, along with work on their second album, the band has started its first concert activity.
The second album, “Cold”, was released by Oriana Music at the end of 2006 where the band revealed its more melodic side. The album received many positive reviews and was later released in an exclusive vinyl version.
The third album, “Mysticism”, has become the most meaningful for KHORS. It practically divided the band's musical pathway into before and after. With the third album the band changed the label to American Paragon Records, and has become better known worldwide. The album gained a lot of positive reviews in hundreds of specialized media of that time. The music disclosed an even more atmospheric and melodic form of Dark Heathen Metal.
The fourth album, “Return To Abandoned”, has lead KHORS to the international level. This album was considered as one of the best albums in the genre, and the band received even greater support and promotion thanks to Paragon Records and an exclusive vinyl edition of the album by the legendary Osmose Productions. At that time the band also has started to appear and perform at the European festivals.
With the fifth record, “Wisdom of Centuries”, the band has signed a contract with world-famous major label Candlelight Records. “Wisdom of Centuries” has become the first band's album performed on the native tongue.
Released in 2015, the 6th full-length “Night Falls Onto the Fronts of Ours” is further strengthening the band’s position on the European scene, and is getting limited in a few months.
Currently, KHORS is one of the most known, and one of the most recognizable Ukrainian metal bands outside the country. The band has its arsenal of six full-length albums, DVDs, live albums and EPs, released in various formats on well-known labels of the metal industry.
In 2020, a new, 7th full-length album of the band is being prepared for release, that will mark a new era of KHORS. The band continues to grow and evolve with every new record and every new show.
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KHORS has participated at such festivals as Motocultor (France), Kilkim Žaibu (Lithuania), Ragnard Rock (France), OST (Romania), Dark Troll (Germany), Gothoom (Slovakia), Aurora Infernalis (the Netherlands), Hell Fast Attack (Czech Republic), Metal Head's Mission (Ukraine), Oskorei (Ukraine), Carpathian Alliance (Ukraine). Wide geography of live shows extends to almost all European countries.
In February 2006 the band entered M-Art Studio in Kharkiv to record its second album. Saturious and Wortherax participated as guest musicians again as well as Michael ‘Maiden’ Smirnov who was involved in mixing and mastering just as it was with the debut album. The works on the album were performing at three studios namely M-Art, Audio Alchemia and Buddha Cat. In December 2006 the album entitled “Cold” was out on Oriana Music.
In 2007, after series of live shows and first Ukrainian tour with THELEMA, in late autumn the band entered studio again to record its third album. This time Kyiv based Blacklight Studio has been chosen for that. The recording lasted a little longer this time and was over in summer of 2008 only. At the same period first band’s LP issue is out – “Cold” album was released by joint efforts of Heidenwut Productions and Ancient Nation Productions. Another one unusual release in the same year was the band’s video bootleg “Cold Ways” issued by Ukrainian label Eclectic Productions.
The year 2008 held a number of live performances including appearances on Metal Head’s Mission, Terroraiser, Chaos festivals and a joint tour over Ukraine with FLYING. Searching for a label for the third album entitled “Mysticism” was over with the signing a contract with Paragon Records from USA which issued digipack CD version of “Mysticism” later in December.
In spring 2009 a special edition of “Mysticism” record is out on leading Russian label Irond Records exclusively for CIS territories. During 2009 year the band playing a number of live shows in Ukraine, Moldova, Russia and Belarus supporting new album. In the middle of the year first line-up changes happened – guitarist Nort was replaced by Warth from FACES OF DEATH.
In February 2010 the band returned to Blacklight Studio in Kyiv again to launch a new recording process. All work on recording, mixing and mastering lasted 5 month and later, in June the 4th band’s full length entitled “Return To Abandoned” was sent to Paragon Records. Before release of new album, Paragon Records issued a special 2CD expanded edition contained the first two band’s albums “The Flame of Eternity’s Decline” and “Cold” with a lot of bonus tracks. Another LP release for the band was “The Flame of Eternity’s Decline” vinyl issued by Heidenwut Production.
In the middle of the year guitarist/vocalist Helg was compelled to leave the band due to family reasons and was replaced by Jurgis who worked before with FACES OF DEATH and GURGABS.
In December 2010 the 4th full-length “Return To Abandoned” was out on Paragon Records and exclusive edition for CIS territories was issued by Russian Irond Records.
In spring 2011 another live bootled entitled “Winter Stronghold” was issued by Eclectic Producions. In the middle if 2011 guitarist Warth suddenly left the band and former guitarist Helg returned. In summer the same year, supporting new album the band appeared on Kilkim Žaibu, cult festival in Lithuania and by the end of the year went to its first European tour together with ANCESTRAL VOLKHVES. In the fall 2011 comes another significant event in the band’s life — "Return To Abandoned" album was out on legendary Osmose Productions in absolutely exclusive Double LP format.
In September the band entered Blacklight Studio again to record their 5th album.
In February 2012 the recording of 5th full-length entitled “Wisdom of Centuries” was over. The album became the first band’s one performed on native tongue. In spring the band signed a contract with Candlelight Records and “Wisdom of Centuries” appeared later in September. The same year live album “Abandoned Leaves” was issued by Eclectic Production on digipack CD and “Mysticism” album was issued on LP by Osmose Productions. Supporting new album the band played a number of live shows including OST festival and Metal Crush Party in Romania, Noč Besov and Pagan fest in Slovakia, Oskorei and Metal Head’s Mission festivals in Ukraine and others.
In 2013 the band worked on new songs and live performances. With live shows the band visited Moldova, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Belarus, Netherlands performing on such festivals as Kilkim Žaibu, Black Metal v Noc Kupały, Gothoom fest, Aurora Infernalis, Uzhgorerotand others. Inthe same year a contract signed with European label Svarga Music regarding re-issue of band’s first 4 albums, and the first Svarga’s release for KHORS was out the same year – “Mysticism” record was out on special digipack CD edition.
In January the band entered studio for new record session which lasted till the end of summer, due to the hard period of countryside events. On summer the recording process was over and the band appeared at Hell Fast Attack festival in Czech Republic. Later in autumn the band went to Slovak tour together with LUNATIC GODS and SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY.
In April 2015 the 6th full-length entitled “Night Falls Onto the Fronts of Ours” is out on Candlelight Records. Approximately the same time re-mastered “Cold” album is out on Svarga Music as special digipack CD edition and later in November another one re-mastered edition is out there as well namely “The Flame of Eternity’s Decline” album. By the end of the year Svarga Music issued “Night Falls Onto the Fronts of Ours” on LP in cooperation with Bloodred Distribution, Gardarika Music, Possession Productions and Fimbulvinter Productions.
Supporting new album the band played a number of shows including Kyiv Black Mass, Lemberg Black Mass, Black Sea Metal and Carpathian Alliance festivals in Ukraine, Gothoom festival in Slovakia and Balkan tour together with APOSTATE during which played in Moldova, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Hungary.