On disc: Norther

 
 No Way Back
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 N
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 N
 
- Philip Thelen -
 
 


 
 Circle Regenerated
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Circle Regenerated

(Century Media - 2011)



 
 

 

Petri Lindroos decided to concentrate of Ensiferum and so Norther had to find a replacement. Actually they have 2 new members in the band with singer Aleksi Sihvonen and guitarist Daniel Freyberg. Lindroos was the last original member of Norther, does it mean Norther will now sound differently? Circle Regenerated will answer this question.



They kick off with Through It All, an up-tempo tune which gives a first impression of the new Norther. Actually the difference isn't as big as some might have expected... A memorable guitar riff, speed changes, growls and clean vocals. The keyboards are more in the background than on N and the guitar adds a rock feeling. Okay, the choir passage will divide the fans, but as it's just one facet of the song... At The Hate I Bear the use more choir passages, but this time they are fitting much better. The guitarists offer heavy riffs and memorable lead passages which give the song it's own identity. At Some Day Tuomas Planman's keyboard is more prominent, at least during the opening passage, then they Finnish storm off and the keyboard steps back. The clean vocals are quite melodic and make Aleksi Sihvonen sound more brutal. A fast one is Break Myself Away, this riff-based tune is spiced up with melodic vocal passages and keyboard sounds / sequences. Falling is one of the highlights of Circle Regenerated, a mid-paced tune with aggressive growls, memorable guitar melodies and catchy clean vocals. Again the guitars stick out and ennoble the song. The closer Closing In offers atmospheric keyboard sounds, a cool guitar lead and at the slower passage they leave their melodic death metal roots behind. But this passage it embedded in parts with fast double bass drumming, heavy riffs and growls.



Resume: A decent album, but even if they have speed changes in every song, there isn't a real slow or fast tune. Also the clean, choir-like passages are too much alike. Norther sticking to the formula, it's like they didn't want to risk anything. But still not every Norther fan will be pleased. Check them out at their MySpace! And perhaps next time they will surprise us...

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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N

(Century Media - 2008)



 
 

 

Founded in 1996 bei Petri Lindroos, they kept to their style. The new album simply called N beats up with 12 - limited edition 15 - kick ass tracks.

First song My Antichrist starts with hectic riffs, a groovy verse and sing-along chorus! Heavy! After that, Frozen Angel starts with spheric keys and goes over to some headbanging beats. Nice verse, but I don't think that the clean vocals fit to the chorus. Down is in my opinion more epic. It's played in mid-tempo and got very much staccato riffs. To Hell starts with one guitar and the voice of Petri. The second guitar joins before the whole band gets into it. Again more spheric sounds from keyboardist Tuomas Planman and some clean vocals from Kristian Ranta. Ok, now it's time for one of the best songs on this damn album! Saviour is very slow, but with such an epic and sad melody! The 3/4 phrase during the intro and chorus gives the song a very personal note. The chorus is very sad, but hopefully as the second verse. I could write many words about this song... Next song Black Gold starts with a fast clean guitar and some melodic solo before it turns into a fast and good-for-headbanging-riff. The verse shows up a fast kick ass tune! We Rock is one of my favourite songs, too. In general it's very fast. This is a classic 'community song' and I think it's live a real burner! The chorus is very good for singing along. Always And Never is just like We Rock, with a very cool chorus part! Tell Me Why starts with a doomy intro and turns into a straight riff. I like the next song If You Go. It starts with some xylophone sounds and clean, quiet vocals while the chorus is in the same tempo but the vocals are more into 'normal Norther vocals'. The second last song Self-Righteous Fuck is a bit faster again shows the more melodic death side of Norther. Last song Forever And Ever starts with epic mid-tempo beats. The whole song is in mid-tempo and it ends with en very long fade out with the same melody as in the intro.

The limited edition of N got 3 Songs from their finland-only EP No Way Back.

First time I listened to Norther was in 2005, I think It was their first album Dreams Of Endless War. I was really surprised of their sound, because it's really close to older Children Of Bodom sounds. But there are some differences like the clean parts, more mid-tempo parts and some ballads.

Ok, they are standing in a little shades of the Hate Crew, but I think that the band is on the right way and that they will create their own sound from time to time.

I recommend the following songs: My Antichrist, Down, Saviour, We Rock, Always & Never, Tell Me Why, If You Go
 
 










Philip Thelen


  
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N

(Century Media - 2008)



 
 

 

Petri Lindroos' band Norther started back in 1996 his band Requiem which became in 2000 after some line-up changes Norther. They signed to Spinefarm Records and their debut Dreams Of Endless War saw the light of day in 2002. Their latest piece of work is simply called N and is the successor of Til Death Unites Us (2006). For their Finnish fans they released in 2007 the EP No Way Back. But now  they are back!

With the thrashy My Antichrist they kick off. Petri Lindroos and his mates stick to their roots, even if the opener is a bit more thrashy. From the 2007 Finland-only EP-release they took Frozen Angel and re-recorded it. On this track it's not just the sweet keyboard melody, it's also the catchy refrain - which could have been take from some gothic metal tune. This track shows the five-some a bit differently. The guitar work of Petri Lindroos and Kristian Ranta is again on a very high level. On Down they surprise with a short drum solo part before the riffing sets in again. And Tuomas Planman's keyboard adds a gothic vibe to it. Fast, heavy riffs lead into To Hell, soon they slow down a bit and with Kristian Ranta's clean vocals the song gets some catchiness... But then Petri takes over again. It's the change between melodic death metal parts and almost gothic metal-like catchiness which makes this one sticks out. Personally I like this, but its also something they get criticized for. On Black Gold the staccato riffing is dominating, but also a nice solo part is added. The keyboard stays in the background which makes this one a heavy neck breaker, even if there are some slower parts. With We Rock they recorded a real metal anthem! On Always & Never they show a slidely different side with electronic sounds, but combine them with fat riffs and the raspy vocals of Petri. With keyboard they start into If You Go which is a partly balladesque tune, but with some heavy riffs. And shows a softer side of the Finnish. Kristian Ranta's vocals fit well to the balladesque part, but then they kick of and for awhile the harsh voice of Petri takes over. Quite interesting, like when within a song another radio station takes over.. and then switches back the the previous one. Cool idea!

On the limited edition you get 3 tracks from No Way Back, so there is only one track of the EP missing. The Japanese edition has as a bonus track Sabotage, a Black Sabbath cover.

Norther are often seen as Children Of Bodom clones, and they are quite close to the sound of their fellow countrymen, but there are differences like the clean vocal parts and sometimes gothic-like keyboards. Others miss the catchiness in the Northern sound, but perhaps the songs need a few more spins, but they grow!

Check out: Frozen Angel, Savior, Tell Me Why, We Rock and Self-Righteous Fuck.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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No Way Back

(Suomen Musiikk - 2007)



 
 

 

With No Way Back the Finnish Norther are releasing an EP which is only available through the web. But at least something new for the crowing number of fans. They kick off with Frozen Angel which perfectly combines melodies and aggressive heaviness. And for people who don't know their sound... Well, it's a bit like a symphonic version of Children Of Bodom - which are friends of them.

Frozen Angel is less heavy then most of their songs and has a touch of gothic... But not as cheesy as some gothic metal bands.... With C.U.S. they present themselves way heavier - a fast riff-based tune with heavy guitars. Tuomas Planman steps a bit back soundwise, so that the keyboard is more in the background and gives guitarists Petri Lindroos and Kristian Ranta more space. A melodic death thrasher. The title track No Way Back is starting slowly with acoustic guitars and shows the band in a different way. After almost one minute they fully get into the song, but it stays mid-tempo. The song gets its heaviness from the death vocals - otherwise it would be a symphonic metal tune. The contrast between vocals and music makes this one interesting. The heaviness is back with Reach Out! An up-tempo tune which fast drumming, pounding bass and sharp riffs - and towards the end a cool guitar solo. Here similarities to Children Of Bodom are most obvious on this MCD, but Norther are not as technical as COB. But still fun!

Last, but not least Close Your Eyes - another heavy one. Here they use again clean vocals in combination with Petri's death vocals. Kristian Ranta is doing very good here and with the clean vocals they give their music a different edge - getting a bit more away from COB's sound. The clean vocals are always very catchy and so it's a walk on the edge between heaviness and being cheesy.

Great production - powerful and clean. A really good 5-tracker, but it's a pity that only few will hear it as it ain't in the stores. Perhaps they will release it later on through a label to get more attention... Meanwhile keep an eye on them!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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