It’s a little strange how you can sometimes keep a pretty good overview of what’s being released on the other side of the world, while completely missing a band that has emerged practically right in your own backyard. That’s exactly what happened to me with Hory from Olomouc. Their Demo 2026 came out back in March, but I’m only getting to it now. And it would be a shame to keep overlooking it.
Hory operate somewhere between post-punk, punk and hardcore, but to me, much more interesting than putting them into a particular box is the atmosphere they manage to create across these five tracks. There’s tension, unease, darkness and a feeling that something isn’t right. The music doesn’t collapse into hopelessness; instead, it pushes towards the need to fight it while leaving plenty of space for the powerful lyrics.
And those lyrics are definitely worth paying attention to. “Slabost” talks about the fear of closeness and the inability to put your own chaos together. “Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of the light.” “Červotoč” works with the image of destroying everything that reminds us of ourselves, while “Mezidobí” paints a powerful picture of a landscape where perhaps nothing will be left behind. “There is nothing to pass on, and no one to pass it on to.”
“Sněť” is another particularly powerful track. The pressure that suffocates you, invisible chains, the expectation that you should be a “good girl,” keep your opinions to yourself and simply carry the shit of the world on your shoulders. And then there’s “Pustina,” where a personal sense of loss mixes with images of an empty landscape, smoke, dust and the search for a home.
Demo 2026 isn’t a long release. Five songs, just over thirteen minutes, and it’s over. But it’s definitely not the kind of material that simply disappears once you’ve finished listening. Hory have their own sound, strong lyrics and an atmosphere that really works.
And I have to say, I’m glad diyconspiracy.net published this article and brought the band, along with a few others, to my attention.
So, a little late this time, but all the more happily: Hory from Olomouc are definitely worth checking out.
