NORTT — Gudsforladt (review)

NORTT — Gudsforladt album cover Album · 2003 · Funeral Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Wilytank
Here is Nortt, a funeral doom metal act that draws influence from black metal. I've heard a good amount of good things for Nortt's debut, 'Gudsforladt'. Before listening, I did notice that none of the songs reach six minutes in length, which kinda worried me. But as it turned out, 'Gudsforladt' was an intriguing trip all the same.

The intro "Graven" starts out with rainstorm samples. After a loud clap of thunder, the keyboards come in with the rainstorm still going in. The tolling of a church bell can also be heard. When this intro ends, the rainstorm plays right into "Doden". Opening with the rain and a weak vocal moan, the funeral doom gets kicked off to a start relatively quickly.

The vocals in the album are either seen in black metal growls/screeches or slow spoken word (lyrics are in Danish). They fit to the lyrics dealing with death, darkness, and solitude. Musically, the most prominant instrument in any of the songs is the keyboards. The keys are easily the most likely to make an impression on the album, and they vary from either piano to ambient-like synths such as those seen in the first two songs. The guitar riffs are pretty standard for the funeral doom environment, and they don't ever take any big leads.

Perhaps the biggest letdown of the album is the lack of variation or room for variation. The songs are short by funeral doom standards and only allow room for about two different rhythms per song. The keyboard fights hard to make the songs interesting, but it often isn't enough. I'm not saying that any of it is bad in any way. Most of these songs are really amazing when listened to singular; but when put together on an album, it gets a little worse for wear.

I know this review is short, but there really isn't much to say about this album. It's a simple funeral doom metal album that I can certainly see many die-hard fans of of the genre enjoying (myself included). Perhaps if Nortt put a little more music into these songs, he would succeed in making something really, really interesting.

By the way, listen to this album in a thunderstorm. If the awesome artwork is any indication, this is an excellent choice of music to listen to while staring out a window at the outside rainy environment.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us