none-selftitled-reviews

Review from Dutch Metal Maniac

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 01:54:38 +0100

From: Dutch Metal Maniac

Published: December 11, 2017

None is a band playing a mix of atmospheric black metal and depressive black metal. This band exists since 2015 and last April they released their self-titled debut album. The tracklist only contains three tracks. However, with the tracks having a length varying between eight and twelve minutes, this album still has a total length of half an hour.

When you start listening to this album, close your eyes and imagine you are on a gigantic, vast, plain ice field. Suddenly evil strikes and you start to feel desperate whether you'll find the way back to the civilized world or not. None delivers a great soundtrack to this desperate experience with this phenomenal debut. The music None brings is extremely heavy mixed with some atmospheric, ambient-like parts. Besides the haunting ghost-sounds the shrieking vocals are very terrifying and intense. This album brings you in some sort of trance. The combination of the slower, intense, atmospheric parts and the faster parts is balanced in a very good way. At the end of opener Cold and at the start of closing track Suffer you will even hear some acoustic instruments, which gives it a bit of a folky, pagan touch.

What will be your destiny? Will you ever find your way back to civilization or is your fate doomed to that gigantic ice field?

None delivers a perfect album with this self-titled debut. Considering the fact that this is their debut, I am curious to know how they will surpass this with their next releases.

Reviewed by: Tim van Velthuysen

Review from Friedhof Magazine

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:45:30 +0100

From: Friedhof Magazine

Published: August 3, 2017

Original Link

¿Qué es None? None es una banda que nace en 2015 en Portland, Oregon y cuya historia y formación son desconocidas por completo. Acaban de debutar con su primer trabajo de larga duración, el cual es homónimo y contiene treinta minutos repartidos en tres pistas, “Cold”, “Wither” y “Suffer”, que además están conectadas entre sí formando una sola.

Pocos géneros me gustan más que el Depressive Black Metal cuando está bien hecho y no se queda meramente en letras tristes y poco más. En este caso nos encontramos ante un Depressive con un tempo bajo, con composiciones de duración extensa y que se fusiona con un gran componente atmosférico que le aporta muchísimo al trabajo. Teniendo en mente otras bandas del género, podríamos decir que lo que ofrece None se asemeja en parte a lo que hacen otros como Thy Light, Hypothermia o Dodsferd, los cuales tienen ritmos más pausados y son más propios a utilizar instrumentos como el teclado para apoyar los riffs de guitarra. De lo que más me ha impresionado es la capacidad de rellenar de forma magistral todo hueco en la composición, dando la sensación de que queda todo muy lleno, completo y casi bordado.

Podría destacar a “Cold” como la pista que más me ha transmitido de todo el CD y que más compleja es a nivel de composición, pero dejar a las otras dos restantes fuera no tendría mucho sentido, ya que está pensado para que sea un álbum que escuches entero y sin pausas.

Sin duda, se trata de uno de los lanzamientos más potentes que he escuchado en lo que va de año y casi con total seguridad estará en mi top 10 anual de este 2017. Sin duda, para tratarse de su primer trabajo han dado en la tecla de cómo hacer las cosas, convirtiéndose en una banda a la que hay que seguir la pista muy de cerca para estar atentos a futuros lanzamientos.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Juan D

Review from Friedhof Magazine

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:45:30 +0100

From: Friedhof Magazine

Published: August 3, 2017

Original Link

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Juan D

Review from Metal Temple

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:29:27 +0100

From: Metal Temple

Published: July 27, 2017

Original Link

There are Black Metal bands who are obscure, and choose to stay out of the spotlight with their names and identities unknown, and then there are Black Metal bands who are ever more obscure. This appears to be the case with NONE, the Portland, Oregon band who have released their eponymous debut here. On some level this can be poetic, as it means that just the music matters over everything else, and we’ve been through the overly conscious image periods of Metal music, ad nauseum. Hypnotic Dirge Records, a non-profit record label, presents this three-track album, with a simple and barren cover of an icy lake under grey skies, and brief and to-the-point aptly named song titles. This is what music is all about at its most basic level.

“Cold” is the first track. An opening three note piano melody leads to full instrumentation on that line. Just before the three-minute mark, traditional Black Metal screams join in. The sound is depressive and desolate. Though the meter remains steadily gradual, there are some chord changes that dig deeper and lower. The final two minutes roll from an ambient passage of acoustic guitar, flute and some effects to the final decadent push to sink the nails in your coffin. “Wither” also opens with piano and clean guitar notes, and a muffled voice carried in the wind. Vocals are once again distressful shrieks, calling out in desperation. The interlude harkens back to the beginning of the track, with delicate fingers on the ivories, before returning back to the madness. The final track is called “Suffer.” At over nine minutes, there is plenty of room for atmosphere, which the beginning embraces. But the vocals quickly remind you of the suffering the singer is portraying. The prominent bass guitar notes keep it grounded in deep despair. Another ambient piano interlude rears up and pushes some frailty into the remainder of the track, a pause from the pain that seems to last a lifetime.

Overwhelmingly depressing, like the loss of a loved one, “None” leaves you empty and numb. Don’t look for much else. For the mood it sets, it does a good job. It’s traditional in scope and you won’t find a lot of variation from track to track in terms of the pacing or the structure however. But this is nothingness well personified.

Rating: 7/10

Reviewed by: Dave Campbell

Review from The Metal Observer

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 20:37:58 +0100

From: The Metal Observer

Published: July 7, 2017

Original Link

While the name None does not lend itself to be easily searchable, there is no better moniker for this Portland based black metal project. There is little information out there for this band, beyond their formation being in 2015, and this self titled album being the debut offering. Regardless of what may or may not be known about this project though, one thing is simple, Hypnotic Dirge Records have hit the mark on putting out this album. The combination of haunting but ethereal atmospherics, and anguished howls are fantastic and the guitars are utterly hypnotizing. None is an album that came out of nowhere seemingly, but deserves a lot of attention.

The three tracks on this release make up a little over 30 minutes of depressing and crushing black metal. Everything about the record feels genuine, as the vocal approach comes across as distraught, and bitter, while the guitar and drums create a mesmerizing flow. There is a great interplay with some softer sections as well, as would be the norm for an atmospheric type black metal project, yet the transitions feel very natural, and regardless of which pace the band wants to play in, the music never looses any sense of structure or movement. Starting the album off with the longest of the three tracks proves to be the best options, as it shows the band in all of their glory. From the beautiful but unsettling synth and keys, the droning guitar lines and harrowing vocals, the band is putting its best foot forward. There is a little burst of aggression as well near the end of the track, which is welcome, while not making this quicker pace feel out of the blue or too different from the remainder of the track. That of course is not taking anything away from the other two songs on the album. “Wither” is perhaps the best example of the utterly soul ruining mentality the band has, while the close “Suffer” ends the album in a very chilling note with the keys and whispered voice sending shivers down your spine.

Whomever may be behind None is proving to be a very talent person or persons. There is clearly a very strong sense of crafting atmospheric black metal, while being able to dabble in the realm of DSBM, but not come across as cheesy or too “emo” for the liking of many. There is a perfect balance, and ultimately, the strong song writing will keep people coming back time and time again. The short run time of the release is nice as well, because None is far from a happy album, or even something to have on in the background on the way to a football game. The music demands the listener to pay attention, but in doing so will leave you feeling quite empty and hopeless.

While None does not feel like an album that will go down as an all time classic of the genre, it is still an incredibly strong debut, and one that should still garner plenty of attention and love. There aren’t exactly any flaws per se on the record, just that there are those who will get more out of this style than others, which is fine. None clearly enjoy anonymity, and choose not to reveal much about themselves (or him/herself?) but that is what makes this project even better. There are no hang ups on image or who is behind the song writing. It’s about the music entirely, and letting this one seep into your brain is recommended.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Neill Bird

Review from Aristocrazia Webzine

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 02:03:55 +0100

From: Aristocrazia Webzine

Published: June 4, 2017

Original Link

Sappiamo praticamente nulla dei None, duo accasatosi sotto l'etichetta canadese Hypnotic Dirge Records e proveniente dalla zona del Pacific Northwest, i cui natali sembrano avvenuti nell'area di Portland. Da poco hanno rilasciato il primo album eponimo, una combinazione di black metal atmosferico che affonda le radici sia nel panorama depressive sia in quello cascadiano, facendo emergere nel corso dell'ascolto tratti riconducibili a nomi quali Shining, Vanhelga, Coldworld, Wolves In The Throne Room e Woods Of Desolation.

Pur essendo composta da soli tre brani, la scaletta di "None" si muove come fosse un unico lungo e diversificato atto. La musica è tetra e avvolgente, consola e fa inabissare l'animo dell'ascoltatore, attraverso riff ciclici, melodie carezzevoli e uggiose, e una impronta vocale abrasiva e tristemente trascinata, canalizzando ondate di emozioni negative. Si rimane così intrappolati nell'oscurità e raccolti su se stessi, accarezzati da una delicata e suadente disperazione che emana un sensibile e confortante gelo.

"None" anestetizza e amplifica la portata di un dolore che prende il controllo della situazione, armonioso ed enfatico, maestoso ed elegante. Esso diviene di conseguenza ancora più familiare e facilmente accessibile e assimilabile, sia per la durata complessiva non troppo estesa del disco (trenta minuti), sia per lo sviluppo sincero e mai troppo inutilmente ridondante.

Siamo di fronte al lavoro di una band che non dovrebbe riscontrare problemi nel farsi apprezzare da chi è a proprio agio con le uscite che brillano di assoluto grigiore e sconforto. Se siete tra questi, il carrello degli acquisti vi attende...

Reviewed by: Mourning

Review from The Headbanging Moose

Wed, 31 May 2017 17:06:28 +0100

From: The Headbanging Moose

Published: May 31, 2017

Original Link

Chilling and despondent music from the Pacific Northwest is what you’ll hear on the impressive self-titled debut album by Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal entity NONE, a dark, full-bodied album comprised of three freakish and distinct arias interconnected by the howling winds of winter that will certainly appeal to fans of the Atmospheric Black Metal and DSBM (Depressive Suicidal Black Metal) crafted by groups such as Shining, ColdWorld and Woods of Desolation. Misery, grief, negativity and hopelessness are just a few elements you’ll find in the music by NONE, darkly guiding you on a one-way journey to emptiness.

Formed in 2015 in the city of Portland, Oregon, in the United States, NONE doesn’t carry its simple but enigmatic name in vain. NONE is precisely that, as they have no faces and they are no one, being solely represented by the depressive and obscure sounds emanating from each one of the three multi-layered compositions of the album. Drawing influences from the most melancholic and austere forms of atmospheric extreme music, NONE can quickly become the soundtrack to your most obscure moments, showing you that solitude might not be a bad solution at all in our lives.

In the opening track, simply titled Cold, the atmosphere couldn’t feel more sinister and disheartened, with its background noises and smooth piano notes quickly exploding into a puissant sonority. This is beautiful Depressive Black Metal perfect for closing your eyes and letting darkness embrace you, showcasing not only demonic gnarls and Stygian Black Metal guitars, but also presenting acoustic elements to bring some sort of false peace and hope to our hearts, before its climatic ending gets back to a somber and heavy sonority.

Also phantasmagorical and doomed, Wither is a direct sequel to its predecessor, with its Black Metal sounds invading our ears and souls while its hellish growls transpire hatred and despair. Furthermore, it brings forward a distressing aura found in the most sluggish and evil form of Blackened Doom, resulting in a delicate and at the same time powerful creation by NONE. And in Suffer we finally reach the stage where all songs together become one, displaying anguished screams and slow-paced Doom Metal beats complemented by the song’s serene piano notes. It’s a strong conclusion to the story being told by this arcane creature known as NONE, morphing into a desolated ending where it’s clear that darkness has taken full control of our souls.

You can purchase a digital copy of NONE at the Hypnotic Dirge Records’ BandCamp, but if you prefer to actually put your hands on such bitterly cold and mordant Depressive Black Metal work-of-art, the album is available in a 6-panel digipack (limited to 300 copies) at the Hypnotic Dirge Records’ webstore, where you can also find it as a T-shirt + CD bundle, or at Discogs. You already know that after following the dark path crafted by this unknown entity there’s no way back, but I guess you really don’t care about the consequences. Quite the contrary, that’s exactly where you want to be.

Rating: 3/5

Review from Metallifer Blog

Fri, 12 May 2017 05:17:34 +0100

From: Metallifer Blog

Published: May 11, 2017

Original Link

None est un duo d’Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal originaire de Portlad, Oregon (US) et actif depuis 2015. Le duo n’a pas de nom mais l’un s’occupe de la musique et l’autre du chant. L’album se compose de 3 titres pour une durée totale d’une demi-heure environs. Le cd se présente sous forme de digipack à six volets à l’esthétique sobre et glaciale. L’album a été masterisé par Cäassimolär.

Cold ouvre les dances avec ses trois notes de piano. Ces trois notes vous rentrent dans la tête sans en ressortir. Sobre, mélancolique glacial. C’est un mid tempo qui alterne tremolo picking à des parties plus élaborées et aérées. La voix est grunt et se présente aussi sous forme de ‘voix off’. Ceci à l’air d’un voyage initiatique et solitaire. Très beaux le break acoustique et atmosphérique à 9:28 avant de redémarrer de façon plus brutale dans une sorte de « coda » qui clôt ce titre de façon désolante et lacérant.

Wither démarre de façon dépouillée, mélancolique, froide. Un « crescendo » de désespoir. Ce titre est plus posé et déclaratif que Cold mais en garde toute la puissance et l’univers. Pas d’espoir ou de rédemption possible. Le mixage est propre et le son général du titre monte en puissance pour souligner cet aspect de « crescendo » dont on a parlé. A 4 :45 on a un passage atmosphérique très réussi qui donne une bonne profondeur au titre en lui conférant une bonne dynamique. Ensuite on repart sur le même morceau qu’auparavant.

Suffer - sur les dernières notes de Wither s’ouvre Suffer et démarre avec des cris lancinants. On fait un pas en avant dans la désolation qui d’humaine devient cosmique. Le tremolo picking et le tapis sonore évoquent les vagues qui s’écrasent contre les roches de façon majestueuse. Le synth donne une profondeur ancestrale à ce titre. La touche atmosphérique est toujours présente, minimaliste et soignée. On aperçoit un écho de Tiamat période Wildhoney (Gaia ou Whatever That Hurts). L’album se termine comme un murmure dans le vent.

Alors oui, il y a des éléments qui peuvent faire penser à Shining (l’ancien), Coldworld, Woods of Desolation, Tiamat (période Wildhoney) mais None – que l’on peut traduire par No one / Personne – garde sa touche personnelle et originale. Il y a en filigrane un écho de musique classique dans la façon selon laquelle les titres sont bâtis : une coda, un crescendo, un leitmotiv donné par les notes de piano. On pourrait penser à une symphonie (ou à un concept album) puisque les morceaux sont unis de façon thématique, de façon « sonore » avec le leitmotiv, et « sonore » aussi puisque il n’y a pas de césure, de pause, de blanc entre un titre et l’autre.

Pour terminer on peut dire que None avec son premier album homonyme signe un très bon début qui se révèle abouti, bien construit et maîtrisé. On attend la suite avec impatience et en attendant on se passe cet album en boucle.

Rating: 9/10

Review from Noizz Webzine

Thu, 11 May 2017 18:42:50 +0100

From: Noizz webzine

Published: May 11, 2017

Original Link

El sello canadiense Hypnotic Dirge Records nos presenta el álbum debut de esta banda estadounidense que responde al nombre de NONE, un trabajo homónimo cuya cubierta muestra un paisaje helado y solitario que nos da una idea de lo que vamos a encontrar a lo largo de los tres cortes que lo componen. Una presentación cuidada que en su formato físico viene en un digipack de seis paneles en cuyo interior tenemos la otra cara de la moneda con fotos de los dos integrantes del grupo con sus rostros debidamente rayados y el ambiente etílico y decadente que los rodea. De modo que tras esta primera toma de contacto ya deberíamos estar preparados para la media hora, aproximadamente, de sonidos deprimentes y fríos que nos espera.

Nada más comenzar a sonar la música de NONE se reconoce un Atmospheric Black Metal y Depressive Black Metal en el que los ambientes melancólicos se combinan las gélidas influencias nórdicas y con melodías que evocan una atrayente desolación. Los temas son largos y también tienen algo de Doom en sus desarrollos, aparte de influencias de eso que llaman Cascadian Black Metal, por lo que la propuesta, pese a su sencillez, está repleta de referencias que nos pueden traer a la cabeza a bandas tan dispares como SHINING, COLDWORLD, WOODS OF DESOLATION, XASTHUR, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, BURZUM... Y hay que reconocer que el letal cóctel sonoro funciona ya que los temas te sumergen en un estado letárgico conducido por melodías evocadoras que caen sobre ti como gotas heladas mientras pierdes la sensibilidad a causa de la tormenta invernal que hay de fondo.

“None” es un trabajo sin artificios, básico y crudo, pero con un poder para recrear ambientes y transmitir melancolía que sorprende desde el primer instante, pese a que sus ingredientes no ofrecen nada novedoso dentro de este tipo de sonidos situados entre el Atmospheric Black Metal y el Depressive Black Metal. Y es que cuando se hace música como esta lo importante son los paisajes fríos que se dibujan y las sensaciones que se transmiten, algo que NONE dominan a la perfección. Por eso solo me queda recomendar la escucha de este sensacional debut.

Rating: 8.5/10

Review from Lords of Metal

Tue, 02 May 2017 05:32:42 +0100

From: Lords of Metal

Published: May 1, 2017

Original Link

Here we have the self-titled debut album by the American outfit None. None plays atmospheric/depressive black metal. Three longs songs full of dismay, desolation and melancholy make up ‘None’. Stylistically they seem inspired by acts like Shining, Wolves In The Throne Room, Woods Of Desolation and Austere. There is a clear depressive atmosphere present and the band often delves into doom territories. These sidesteps beyond the realm of black metal are the main strength of this largely successful entry into the scene. The total desolation and despair in these parts is almost tangible which makes for an intense listening experience. The sporadic addition of synths has a harrowing effect and deepens the emotional charge that this record has in spades. Fans of depressive black metal should check this very promising and already very mature debut out.

Rating: 77/100

Reviewed by: Roel de Haan