Napalm Records
Norwegian hard-rockers Audrey Horne have built their reputation on huge melodies, twin-guitar fireworks, swaggering grooves and choruses made for the live stage. The band’s 8th studio album «Achilles» keeps those trademarks intact, but adds a darker and more reflective edge. The title track immediately signals the shift. “Achilles” is heavier and more atmospheric than some of the band’s earlier material, combining weighty riffs, duelling guitars and changing dynamics. Its themes of conflict and division give the song an appropriately uneasy character, particularly when vocalist Toschie cries “Ceasefire”. It is ambitious without losing the immediacy that defines Audrey Horne.
Elsewhere, the band moves effortlessly between classic hard rock and more introspective territory. “In The Eye Of The Hurricane”, clearly a Scorpions influenced track, delivers expansive guitars and a huge chorus, while “Vampires”, with its Eye of the Tiger-esque rhythm, brings darker, muscular energy. “God Damn Beautiful” is perhaps the album’s most infectious moment, with strong Thin Lizzy influences and Espen Lien taking the lead vocal. It is uncomplicated rock’n’roll fun (and leave’s Toschie with nothing to do but vacuum the studio – check out the video below!).
The quieter moments are equally important. “Pretty Little Lies” introduces a melancholy weight, while “New Star Falling” closes the album with an emotional, melodic flourish. These tracks broaden the record’s emotional range and prevent «Achilles» from becoming simply another collection of hard-rock anthems. Then comes “Insanity”, where the band’s trademark swagger returns. Its twin-guitar attack and enormous chorus make it an obvious live favourite and it is a playful nod to Iron Maiden’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name”.
The second half gets heavier, particularly on “Hell Is Eternity” and “Six Feet In The Ground”, but Audrey Horne never sacrifice melody for heaviness. Even their grittiest riffs remain firmly rooted in classic hard rock. “Running Through The Night” restores some of the band’s mischievous personality before the reflective finale “New Star Falling”.
What makes Achilles work is its balance. Audrey Horne haven’t abandoned what made their earlier records so enjoyable; they’ve simply surrounded it with more atmosphere and emotional weight. If there is a weakness, it is that the serious mood occasionally replaces some of the reckless fun of their best work. But that maturity also makes the album interesting. «Achilles» isn’t a reinvention—it is an evolution, and a convincing one.
4,5/6 | Anne-Marie Forker
Release date: 4 September 2026