Release Date: August 30th 2024. Record Label: Pelagic Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Norna: Tracklisting
1.Samsara
2.For Fear of Coming
3.Ghost
4.Shine By Its Own Light
5.Shadow Works
6.The Sleep
Members
Tomas Liljedahl - Vocals & guitars
Christophe Macquat - Guitars, bass & moog
Marc Theurillat - Drums & samples
Review
Sludge/Post-Metallers Norna new self-titled album is an all out assault on the senses with their dirge ridden and brutal style of Sludge Metal and Post Metal which does show some great signs of uplifting and melodic Post-Rock along the way. Norna consists of the following members Tomas Liljedahl (Breach, The Old Wind) and Christophe Macquat and Marc Theurillat (both of instrumental metallers Ølten).
The record has been produced by Magnus Lindberg from Cult Of Luna and the record has quite an ice cold and methodical approach within the heavy progressive moments that appear on the album. With similar sounds to bands such as YOB, CONAN, Neurosis and Primitive Man being played at various stages, Norna are quite unforgiving with their down-tuned creative vision which is helped by stunning Ambient Metal textures held within the sublime opening tracks of Samsara and For Fear Of Coming.
Norna perhaps play a classic style of Post-Metal that harks back to the early to mid 2000’s when ISIS (The Band), Cult Of Luna, Neurosis and The Ocean Collective were developing their own style of Post-Metal that allowed that genre to be called “THINKING MAN’S METAL”. Norna blends sonic landscapes, dark Psychedelic pastures and bleak soundbytes which is all held together by a truly APOCALYPTIC sounding journey.
The music is overlapped with a despairing DRONE METAL aspect which allows Norna to generate a whirlwind style of pummeling grooves and extended instrumental Post-Metal beats. The songwriting is another strong point from this album with the later stages showcasing similar ideas to bands such as YOB on the brilliantly poetic tracks:Ghost and Shine By Its Own Light.
Norna still develop their own exciting style of music where they show a deft modern touch especially within the haunting Post-Doom flavours of the whole record. This album does have a complex nd progressive attitude but Norna are absolute masters of delivering a highly evolved style of riff centric style of Post-Metal with a huge layer of gloomy based NOISE with that Atmospheric Sludge movement that fully takes over on the later stages of the record.
The final two tracks of Shadow Works and The Sleep continue with the harsh and cold-hearted style of Post-Metal with some moments of Ambient Post-Rock being played along the way. The epic vocal performance from Tomas Liljedahl has quite an emotional depth and range to them where these tracks alone contain his finest vocal moments. Tomas’s vocals maybe harsh, brooding and unforgiving but I felt a deep personal connection to what Tomas was singing. The instrumental sounds were superb as well with Norna delivering some of the heaviest parts on the entire album.
This album is the perfect example of how to deliver a devastating and emotionally charged record that is brutally honest and be classed as one of the most original Post-Metal releases of 2024.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Pelagic Records for the promo.
Norna will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl via Pelagic Records from Friday August 30th 2024.
Links
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