Hellig Usvart - Recording History

Recording History

In 1993, drummer Jayson Sherlock had just parted ways with the death metal band Mortification and joined the band Paramaecium. During this time, Sherlock was charmed by Northern European black metal music but did not like the malicious lyrical approach of the movement. He decided to record similar music with a Christian message, with intent to bring hope to the bleak black metal subculture. Sherlock ended up forming a solo project, as he could play guitar, bass and keyboards aside with drums, his main instrument. In 1994 he formed a solo project under the name Beheadoth and recorded the song "Mine Heart Doth Beseech Thee (O Master)" for a compilation album by Rowe Productions. Later, Sherlock changed the name Beheadoth to "Horde." He took advantage of his former band Mortification's relationship to Nuclear Blast Records, and talked to the label owner Markus Staiger about releasing Horde's album. Staiger became interested in the project and decided to release the album.

Sherlock recorded an album between July 11–15, 1994. He played, produced, and mixed everything himself. A person under the pseudonym "Unblack Mark" handled the studio and recording techniques. As a graphic artist himself, Sherlock created the album's packaging and cover picture. Sherlock marked himself under the pseudonym "Anonymous" in the album's booklet since neither he nor the record company were supposed to reveal his identity. The album was named Hellig Usvart, which is Norwegian for "holy unblack". Sherlock said in an interview about the name: "I read on the back of an early Dark Throne album, 'Dark Throne play Unholy Black Metal'. Horde was always going to be lyrically the opposite of this, hence: 'Holy Unblack Metal'. I guess this is how the 'unblack' name or title came about. The music sounded like BM, but because of the lyrics and the spirit behind it, it is not BM."