Death Unlimited

They keep on getting better and better. I wasn’t entirely sure aboot this when I got hold of it but it’s proved itself as a cracking album. My thoughts on first hearing it were yeah it’s good in parts, mainly referring to the title track which is a real belter. But on further more careful listening the songs really blaze and soar at times with a real intensity absent from previous releases. It is successful as an album in simultaneously marrying the recent development of aggression and heaviness with the blending of the remainder of their sound, which has been lacking in Norther as a band up until this point, being more inclined towards a power metalish sound with a little bit more edge initially. This is heavier however, and is a truly brilliant album for it.

The symphonic bite to many of the songs too, has tremendous results, particularly on songs like “the Cure” and “Nothing”, and it’s hear that Norther for me really mark themselves out as a band. It’ll also hopefully go some way from distancing them from ‘that other band’ which there’s been comparison to consistently. This was justified a little while ago, but surely not anymore. Norther have proven with this release that they stand apart with their own sound and, for my money, are the superior band; each of the songs on this release have a uniqueness lacking in Children of Boredom’s approach. Yes they use similar tones and timbres in the instruments and vocal approach. Get over it. All you need to do to hear the difference is just listen (big surprise huh?). Norther have demonstrated beyond doubt on this release that they are now doing their own thing and have a different approach to CoB, mostly in the writing of the songs with varying tempos, and having the ability to let the songs breathe more overall. Having said that there’s still plenty of thrashy faster numbers with really great shredding like “Death Unlimited” and “Deep Inside” alongside the other numbers. There is a great deal of variety on this record too, shown by the placing of songs like “Hollow”, which sit happily (at least as ‘happily’ as Norther get) side by side with “Nothing” and its miserable midpaced whirlwind of pounding melody on one side, and “Beneath” on the other, a pleasant chilly and very beautiful keyboard led instrumental.

The Guitars are convincing; plenty of riffing and shreddy fast , as well as classy, soloing. The vocals and lyrics aptly fit and add an emotional edge to many of the songs if you’re into that sort of thing (“I fear the darkness, that makes me blind, there’s no one I can see, these tears are nothing without you, I am Nothing without you ”, to the slightly more aggressive; “Fuck You and DIE!”). The bass is well placed. The drumming pounds and hammers appropriately at the right places with an equally fine nose for composition, and Tuomas Planman too shows talent, aptitude and brilliance with his keyboard arrangements, and putting in place what will best fit the mood and situation. Indeed the entire band on this release have really managed to really fit and blend as a band, creating a seamless sound where each instrument occupies its area and shines without overstepping its allotted fragment.

But I digress. It Rules! (if unhappy with this phrase replace with “It Kicks Ass” or, if you must, replace either of the words “Rules” or “Kicks” with the term; “Owns”….shudder). Norther have really stepped up the force with this release and improved on their sound. They are a very talented and competent band, and have bags of creativity and song writing ability to boot and it’s a bit of a shame that they’re so overlooked compared to maybe CoB, and the rest of the metal community seems to have its attention elsewhere at the moment. Never mind eh? Awesome band. An awesome, beautiful CD. No more to say.