Album Review: Norse - Hellstorm

Norse [Australia]
Hellstorm
2010
Full Length
Black/Death Metal
7.7/10

The number of bands claiming to have Norse mythology influenced lyrics seems to be growing by the day, with perhaps the most prominent band being Amon Amarth, often incorporating Norse mythology and viking themes into their lyrics. It was no surprise then that anyone who faces a band who calls themselves Norse would expect the same kind of melodic death metal assault in the veins of Amon Amarth coming from them. Even the album artwork feels Amon Amarth or Turisas-ish.

Unsurprisingly, bands like these would definitely bring to mind bands like Amon Amarth, and while the band begins to sound slightly similar to Amon Amarth's brand of music as the album progresses, I was relieved that the band does not fully wear their influences and inspirations on their sleeves and inject enough of their own originality into their music, giving them the right to call this sound their very own. The result? A sped up and brutalised version of the brand of viking metal that everyone is familiar with nowadays.

With that in mind though, I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised by what I heard from the band. Hellstorm is Norse's first full length album after their name change from Celestial, and is a huge direction change from Celestial's brand of music, melodic death metal. Instead, what is presented here is slightly more than 40 minutes of brutal black/death metal aural assault.

Right from the opening track, Hellstorm, there is no time to breathe with Treelo's brutal vocals and the punishing and furious blast beast of drummer Frog. Treelo's vocals tend to go from a low guttural death growl all the way to a torturous semi-shriek. Moments of semi-clean vocals also fit well with the rest of the songs, such as on Glory in Death. Robin Stone's drumming is quick and precise, no wonder considering his portfolio which include stints with Canadian hordes Paroxsihzem and Augury. The guitar riffs present on Hellstorm are all respectably technical in their own rights, yet constantly maintaining a sense of melody, ensuring that the journey remains an enjoyable and coherent one. Songs such as Father of the Norns have riffs that are sufficiently melodic yet brutal at the same time with the heavy palm-muting in between melodious riffs.

Norse also manages to capture a heroic feeling in their music, at times majestic and leaving the listener feeling as if they have conquered their enemies at battle, such as on the interlude track V, where a majestic drum backs the folkish tune with the sound of rain in the background.

With music of such quality it leaves me wondering why bands like them remain independent and unsigned. Not complaining though, as long as they keep pumping out tunes such as these!

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