Fun fact for fans of AMG lore: I originally found this very metal blog back in early 2010 while searching for reviews of Audrey Horne’s self-titled third album. I auditioned for a writing job, and my first review posted a mere month later. Since then, I’ve reviewed all the Audrey Horne releases, and I admit to being a big fanboy of their retro-leaning hard rock style. At their best, they craft irresistibly fun, punchy anthems, and even at their worst, the music is still pretty damn entertaining, and it never ceases to amuse me that the band features Ice Dale of Enslaved and I fame. 2022s Devil’s Bell had big moments, but felt a bit flat compared to prior platters like Youngblood and Pure Heavy. Now comes 8th album, Achilles, and it’s everything you expect from the band. There’s a strong focus on hooks and replay factor while keeping that 70s rock vibe intact. But can they get the wheels back on the Hornemobile for another monster of a rock album?
The opening title track kicks the party off with a hard-charging attack. Charismatic frontman Toschie leads you on a rowdy ride backed by galloping, churning riffs and a thumping bass rumble, and it’s exactly what I want from Audrey Horne. Then things get moody and introspective with a thick 70s prog rock vibe. Soon it steers back into rocked-out festivities with dominating guitar lines and a kinda sorta Iron Maiden vibe. It’s a cool trip. “In the Eye of a Hurricane” is the perfect Audrey Horne song with a raucous, uncouth vibe and a huge chorus designed to destabilize stadiums. “Vampires” is another win, simple and uber cool, a rock song that gets under your skin on first listen and never lets go. I’ve had this one on replay an obscene amount, and I can’t get enough of it. In a just world, “God Damn Beautiful” would be a huge hit for the band and garner heavy radio play since it’s a dangerously infectious earworm monster. It features bassist Espen Lien on vocals instead of Toschie, though you may not notice at first. He does a bang-up job selling the song, and The Night Flight Orchestra will bitterly wish they wrote this one.
Despite this killer start, Achilles can’t maintain the same level of awesome sauce, and the back half is less memorable. While “Insanity” is pure rock fury and “Hell is Eternity” is like a drunken Iron Maiden doing a rock song, other cuts like “Six Feet in the Ground,” “Running Through the Night,” and closer “New Star Falling” are just okay. They’re pleasant enough, but they don’t hit anywhere near as hard as the better tracks, and at times they’re overly similar to the recent material from The Night Flight Orchestra. There’s an uneventful interlude included as well, and it seems to serve no particular purpose. This makes Achilles very front-loaded, as you get the best 5 cuts within the first 7 tracks. However, at a tight 44 minutes with all cuts in the 3-5 minute frame, it’s a pretty easy, breezy spin.
I’ve been a big fan of Toschie’s vocals and overall frontman persona since I discovered Audrey Horne. He’s one of the best hard rock vocalists out there, and he brings a lot ot personality and gravitas to the material. He’s in great form here, delivering his usual sleazy, ne’er-do-well vocals in a way that feels like he’s about to do something illegal. He’s buoyed by the high-flying leads from Ice Dale and Thomas Tofthagen (ex-Sahg) as they draw inspiration from classic rock acts like AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, and Led Zeppelin, but also rock very Maiden-esque harmonies when things kick into high gear. Behind them, the big bass presence from Espen Lien is counterpointed by rock-solid kit work from Kjetil Greve. Audrey Horne have been around the block and play the kind of music they love, and it shows, even when the writing isn’t consistently great.
Achilles is a bit better than Devil’s Bell. It has big moments and memorable romps, but it has a few lower-tier nuggets that drag it down a notch or two. I may want another album as strong as Youngblood, but I’ll settle for releases like this because Audrey Horne are so damn fun and the perfect soundtrack for summer beer chuggery. You like fun, right? Does anyone remember laughter? Ah, fuck you all, I’m getting drunk.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: NA | Format Reviewed: FUCKING STREAM
Label: Napalm
Websites: audrey-horne.bandcamp.com/album/achilles | facebook.com/audreyhorneofficial | instagram.com/audreyhorneofficial/?hl=en
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026
The post Audrey Horne – Achilles Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
