History
Vocalist and guitarist Shatraug, guitarist Moredhel, and drummer Gorthaur formed Horna in 1994. Horna did not record until early 1995. The first demo, Varjoissa, was released in September that year and sold out. In 1996, Nazgul von Armageddon took over vocals, and the band recorded their second demo, Hiidentorni, in January 1997, resulting in a deal with Solistitium Records. Their first full-length album, Kohti Yhdeksän Nousua, was released in 1998. The band continued to release albums on this label through June 1998, when Moredhel and bassist Skratt left the band. Bassist Thanatos replaced Skratt, and Moredhel rejoined that August. In 1999, the band signed to Oskorei Productions for a vinyl-only release of the band's second album, Haudankylmyyden Mailla. The band released a series of limited vinyl-only EPs and split albums through most of the early 2000s, with full-length studio albums coming out in the latter half of the decade. In 2002, Nazgul von Armageddon left the band, leaving vocals to Corvus. In July 2003, guitarist Aarni T. Otava left the group. Horna cited the loss of "dedication" as the reason for his departure, and revealed that Horna's performance at 2003's Tuska Open Air Metal Festival would be their last with Otava. Corvus left the band and Spellgoth took over as vocalist in 2009.
Controversy
Horna has been criticized for NSBM ties. Former lead vocalist Nazgul von Armageddon was alleged to have expressed Nazi views in his solo project Satanic Warmaster. In 2005, founder Shatraug accused Nazgul of being "the Nazi in our ranks" and the band's website in 2007 declared that "[w]hat any ex-members might represent is not what we stand for." Shatraug said that Horna was "nationalist to a certain point", but not National Socialist.
In 2010 and again in 2019, Horna concerts were cancelled because of allegations that the band was involved with NSBM. The band responded by denying any involvement with national socialism. In response to members of the far-right extremist group Atomwaffen Division doing Nazi salutes in the crowd during a performance, Horna stated that the band has no interest in politics.
