norilsk-news

? ?MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE!!! ? ? : Norilsk - “Weepers of the Land”!

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 00:42:51 +0100

Funeral rites and its iconography have a long history of weepers, or weeping figures – sad, heavy characters mourning the deceased. “Weepers of the Land” is a nod to the expression 'keepers of the land,' most often used in an indigenous and/or environment-related context, while referencing a less glorious side of history. The title song and concept is about what stays behind after someone vanishes.

The song was co-written with Joshua Cayer (Longhouse – bass/vocals), who is also guest vocalist on the song.

Joshua comments: “When we were developing the concept of the track, I had just finished listening to a podcast hosted by Indigenous journalist, Connie Walker, called Missing and Murdered: Who Killed Alberta Williams. Aside from the obvious painful subject matter, what really struck me was the guilt expressed, and carried for all these years, by those closest to Alberta Williams - What if I answered my phone that night? What if I turned around sooner? What if. As a father of two little girls, I couldn’t begin to imagine the deep sorrow that is carried by survivors of our Indigenous women and girls that go missing, or are murdered. I tried to give voice to just a fraction of what those feelings of pain, guilt and failure might feel like to a father or a mother, with the hope of creating better awareness and empathy for the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in our country.”

“Weepers of the Land”'s dark and heavy atmosphere takes the shape of an epic, extreme doom metal song. Clocking in at 10min and 22secs, Weepers of the Land's monumental proportions and slow pace represented both a challenge and an opportunity to transfer onto the screen. Approaching it from the perspective of a short movie, Erik Labossiere of Wikked Twist Films was given artistic freedom to develop the concept behind the video.

Erik comments: “When creating the video concept for "Weepers" I wanted to create a narrative that could symbolize an array of current issues and motifs. With the core message of corruption and assimilation, I wanted to tell a story that could identify with any situation of oppression and abuse. I also wanted to create characters that each themselves expressed a reaction to these issues. Some see the plight of our world and react with indifference, with silence, with reinforcement, and some push to create hope. In my opinion, there is only one monster in this video, and everyone else exists within the grey, and its is up to the viewer to reflect on this and question which role they play.”

Credits:

This video was directed by Erik Labossiere and Kristin Wagner, costuming by Beki Stilborn, was shot at the Creative City Centre in Regina, SK (organized by Catherine Abenstein) and featured Ivy West and Violet Rayes (of The Pink Champagne Girls), Donny Pinay and Nate Cradock (of Altars of a Grief), Beki Stilborn (Archaical), Josh DeCorby, Gabrielle Kyrylchuk, and Kaden Phillips. Masks created by Merimask.

Music by Norilsk. Lyrics by Nic Miquelon and Joshua Cayer.

Additional Links:

Norilsk Website
Norilsk Profile
Norilsk Facebook
Norilsk - Weeper of the Land [CD]

Norilsk - Weepers of the Land [Digital]

Norilsk Video Interview - “Hooded Pilgrims without a Sacred Ground”

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 11:57:58 +0100

On October 12, Norilsk’s new opus Weepers of the Land was officially released on Hypnotic Dirge Records. Over the last few weeks, we presented advance material including a music video for “The Way”, paying tribute to one of the earliest occult movies filmed on Canadian soil, and “No Sacred Ground”, featuring Damian Smith of Altars of Grief on guest vocals.

Now that the album has been released for a few days and you have had a chance to listen to it in its entirety, we want to offer a more in-depth look into the themes of “Weepers of the Land” as a whole. Exploring the album’s lyrical content, artwork inspiration, and collaborations, band founders Nicolas Miquelon and Nick Richer discuss how “Weepers of the Land” came to be and its connection to its previous full-length album released in 2017.

The video was crafted by Erik Labossiere of Wikked Twist Films.

“Trails of doom get slowly carved

As we walk the path together

Eternal wandering into the underground

There’s no sacred ground for the conquered”

ALBUM RELEASE: Norilsk - Weepers of the Land

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 03:40:35 +0100

Norilsk’s new mini-album “Weepers of the Land” is now officially released! The album is available in digipack format with a bonus track exclusive to the CD version of the album. You can also pick up a Trails of Doom pack which includes three CD's, a shirt, a patch, and a sticker.

The main bulk of the album is streaming in full on Bandcamp and available as a “Name-Your-Price” download.

"Coming off the heels of their latest full-length album, this fall the Canadian Death-Doom act Norilsk returns with a collection of new material linked in concept with its previous full-length while also showcasing Norilsk’s more collaborative and multi-faceted nature. The new mini-album, entitled “Weepers of the Land” is made up of four new compositions as well as a Mylene Farmer cover song with artwork from William Blair Bruce (1859-1906)."

"Weepers of the Land" Digipack CD:

"Weepers of the Land | Le passage des glaciers" 2 CDs

"Trails of Doom" pack [3 CD's, shirt, patch, sticker]

Bandcamp Player:
Weepers of the Land by Norilsk

PRE-ORDERS: Norilsk - Weepers of the Land, Trails of Doom Norilsk Pack

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 02:48:41 +0100

We are now accepting pre-orders for the new Norilsk's mini-album, entitled “Weepers of the Land”, which will be released worldwide by Hypnotic Dirge Records on October 12, 2018.

Norilsk’s new opus should be viewed as a companion to last fall’s “Le passage des glaciers” as the material was written and recorded during the same time period, but with that being said there is a different feeling - seemingly of a more abrasive and desperate nature - conjured on this album’s material.

“Weepers of the Land” consists of four new compositions and a cover song (Mylene Farmer - Tomber 7 fois) which is exclusive to the CD version of the album for a total playing length of 32 minutes. The album will be presented in a 4 panel digipack with artwork from William Blair Bruce (with the kind permission of the Art Gallery of Hamilton).

Pre-orders options:

"Trails of Doom" - Norilsk Discography Pack [$C48 + shipping]:

PRE-ORDER HERE

"Weepers" | "Passage" CD Bundle: [$C18 + shipping]

PRE-ORDER HERE

"Weepers of the Land" Digipack: [$C9 + shipping]

PRE-ORDER HERE

"Weepers of the Land" Digital [Free / Name-your-price]

*$C5 charge during pre-orders.

Name-your-price upon Oct 12 release date

PRE-ORDER HERE

Tracklist:

1 - No Sacred Ground (7:51)

2 - The Way (3:33)

3 - Toute la noirceur du monde (5:23)

4 - Tomber 7 fois (5:04)

5 - Weepers of the Land (10:21)

Total: 32:12

VIDEO RELEASE: Norilsk releases music video “The Way”, off their forthcoming album

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 18:07:55 +0100

On October 12, doom-death entity Norilsk is set to release a brand new offering; an omen that autumn will be tuned down to doom and the bitter cold. Weepers of the Land is the follow up mini-album to last year's full length Le passage des glaciers, presenting a more abrasive and visceral Norilsk weaving stories of heritage, loss, and displacement through dynamic and atmospheric blackened death-doom metal. Weepers of the Land will be Norilsk’s third installment on Hypnotic Dirge Records.

Vocalist/bassist Nic M. comments: “When we entered Wolf Lake Studio in 2017, we had enough new material to record nearly two albums. We chose to record it all, working with producer Mike Bond once again to explore the spectrum of possibilities and see what this beast would look like before deciding on how we would separate and release the material. On last year's Le passage des glaciers, the songs represented a cold and solitary travel inward, and we kept the more exploratory and collaborative songs for this year's follow up. Weepers of the Land could therefore be seen as the second half of this recording session, one where Norilsk has been cycling inward and outward.”

“The Way” is the first excerpt of Norilsk's 2018 release Weepers of the Land. In a surprisingly short length for the genre, the band delivers the spirit of death and doom, while paying tribute to one of the earliest occult movies filmed on Canadian soil.

Credits: Video and audio excerpts taken from Secrets of Chinatown – The black robe, Northern Films Ltd (1935).

Weepers of the Land track listing:

1. No Sacred Ground (7:51)

2. The Way (3:33)

3. Toute la noirceur du monde (5:23)

4. Tomber 7 fois (5:04) (Mylène Farmer cover, exclusive to CD)

5. Weepers of the Land (10:21)

Available October 12, 2018, on Hypnotic Dirge Records.
Pre-orders coming soon.

ALBUM NEWS: Hypnotic Dirge Records to release new Norilsk album on October 12

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:56:56 +0100

Coming off the heels of their latest full-length album “Le passage des glaciers”, this fall the Canadian Death-Doom act Norilsk returns with a collection of new material linked in concept with its previous full-length while also showcasing Norilsk’s more collaborative and multi-faceted nature. It retains the band's signature sound developed on its two full-length albums, and brings forward further openness to an array of doom-related influences.

The new mini-album, entitled “Weepers of the Land”, will be released worldwide by Hypnotic Dirge Records on October 12, 2018 (pre-orders will start in a few weeks). The new album is made up of four new compositions as well as a Mylene Farmer cover song (Tomber 7 fois), previously released in Russia on a limited edition compilation CD, and completely remixed. The new compositions include collaborations with other Canadian musicians including Damian Smith (Altars of Grief), Joshua Cayer (Longhouse), Ben Forte (North East Bistro, TGRE), and long-time collaborator Mort Marion (Outrage AD, Blood Moon Knights).

“Weepers of the Land” should be viewed as a companion album to “Le passage des glaciers” as the songs were written and recorded during the same time period. The album will be presented in a 4 panel digipack with artwork from William Blair Bruce (Canadian painter, 1859-1906).

Links:

Norilsk Website

Norilsk Facebook

Norilsk Archive

VIDEO PREMIERE: Scholomance Webzine premieres Norilsk's new music video ‘La voie des morts’

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 16:49:48 +0100

French-Canadian doom act Norilsk unveils a new music video from their latest album Le passage des glaciers, released through Hypnotic Dirge Records. La voie des morts (The Way of the Dead) is a winter dirge, a black premonition accompanying the dead season. Without a doubt the fastest track on the album, it starts as a cold funeral march, before turning into a blackened procession.

Scholomance Webzine is premiering the music video at this link.

The video was co-directed by Wikked Twist Films, located nearby Regina, and 2700 km-away HVY One Productions, of Ottawa's area. Erik Labossière of Wikked Twist Films brought his universe of the macabre and the morose to develop a short story revolving around a few characters. Erik comments: “Shooting only a portion of a video and working with footage shot across the country was a unique situation and combining two narratives to create one full story was even moreso. Norilsk is very good at both defining their concept and allowing room for creativity on my part, and I really enjoyed expanding the universe we created in 'La noirceur intérieure' with some references and correlations to that video. I feel that a music video is an opportunity to give a visual palate to an auditory experience, and creating a powerful or intriguing narrative to accent the sound is a best of both worlds scenario. I love shooting this type of concept. A silent film narrated by only the music and message of the artist is such a rewarding and expansive collaboration.”

Nick Richer of Norilsk and HVY One adds: “We've known Erik for a few years now, as we toured with his bands Nachtterror and Altars of Grief, and he directed our previous video 'La noirceur intérieure.' Co-shooting a video is quite a nice feel when you have no idea what the other will come out with. I had high expectations from Erik after seeing his work, and he completely exceeded them. Working with him was a pleasant experience and is looking great for the future.”

Credits:

Wikked Twist Films 2018

HVY One Productions 2018

The Wikked Twist Films segment of "La voie des morts" featured Amberyl Watson as the protagonist and Sarah Cameron as the "Ribbon-trap woman." Shooting was assisted by Kristin Wagner and filmed on a cold day in Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan.

The HVY One Productions segment features Nic Miquelon and Nick Richer, and filmed in the perpetual winter setting of various locations in the Gatineau Park, Quebec.

Links:
Norilsk CD and Merch packs

"Le passage des glaciers" Digital

Norilsk Website

Norilsk Facebook

Wikked Twist Films Facebook

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Version en français:
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Le groupe doom canadien-français Norilsk dévoile un nouveau vidéoclip tiré de leur plus récent album Le passage des glaciers, paru chez Hypnotic Dirge Records. 'La voie des morts' est un chant funeste, une prémonition obscure accompagnant la saison morte. Sans doute la pièce la plus rapide de l'album, elle débute avec une lente et froide marche, avant d'accélérer et de se transformer en une noire procession.

Visionnez le vidéoclip en primeur sur Scholomance Webzine en suivant le lien ici

Le vidéo a été co-dirigé par Wikked Twist Films, établi près de Regina, et HVY One Productions, situé à quelques 2700 km, dans la région d'Ottawa. Erik Labossiere de Wikked Twist Films a incorporé son goût pour le macabre et le morose afin de développer une trame narrative autour de quelques personnages. Erik mentionne: “Le fait de filmer seulement une portion d'un vidéo et travailler à partir d'images prises à l'autre bout du pays représente une situation unique, et l'idée de combiner deux trames narratives en un seul montage l'est encore davantage. Norilsk est très bon pour définir leur concept et m'offrir toute la flexibilité pour utiliser ma créativité, et j'ai réellement apprécié pouvoir construire à partir de l'univers que nous avions créé sur 'La noirceur intérieure', en utilisant à la fois des références et des corrélations entre les deux. Pour moi, un vidéoclip est une opportunité d'habiller visuellement une expérience auditive et créer un récit saisissant pour en accentuer le son représente le meilleur des deux mondes. J'adore tourner ce genre de concept. Un film muet raconté uniquement par la musique et le message de l'artiste représente une collaboration tellement gratifiante et expansive.”

Nick Richer de Norilsk et de HVY One ajoute: “Nous connaissons Erik depuis quelques années, nous avons partagé une tournée avec ses groupes Nachtterror et Altars of Grief, et il avait créé notre vidéo 'La noirceur intérieure'. Co-diriger le tournage d'un vidéo est particulièrement stimulant lorsque tu ignores ce que l'autre créera. J'avais de hautes attentes d'Erik après avoir vu son travail, mais il les a complètement dépassées. Travailler avec lui est une expérience agréable et cela augure bien pour l'avenir.”

Visitez Hypnotic Dirge Records pour vous procurer le plus récent album de Norilsk, Le passage des glaciers, et mettre la main sur de la marchandise et des packages exclusifs.

Crédits:

Wikked Twist Films 2018

HVY One Productions 2018

La portion de Wikked Twist Films pour “La voie des morts” met en scène Amberyl Watson comme protagoniste et Sarah Cameron comme 'femme au ruban-piège'. Kristin Wagner a aidé au tournage et celui-ci a été réalisé lors d'une journée froide à Qu'Appelle, en Saskatchewan.

La portion de HVY One Productions met en scène Nic Miquelon et Nick Richer, et a été filmée lors d'un hiver sans fin à différents emplacements dans le parc de la Gatineau, au Québec.

Norilsk Interview with 'A Different Shade' of Black Zine [November 20, 2017]

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 21:09:29 +0100

Norilsk Interview with 'A Different Shade' of Black Zine
Published: November 20, 2017
Original Link

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Le passage des glaciers is being released on November 24, which means we are currently preparing all the pre-orders, including a new shirt designed by Misanthropic-Art.com. We also have a new lyric video for the song ''Noirceur intérieure'', to be premiered the same week. The band has been rehearsing for the album release show, planned on December 8th, in Ottawa. Aside from this, there is always plenty of planning, booking, and media communication surrounding a new release, which keeps us busy.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

The previous releases were rough around the edges, intentionnally imperfect, and full of fuzz/distortion texture. The new album is more melodic, colder in texture, its structure are a little more varied, and overall the lyrics are more personal. I think people will recognize the guitars and the general sound that we developed previously, but with a few tweaks in the amps setting and mixing. We are very pleased with the work of Mike Bond, producer/engineer at Wolf Lake Studios, who has been instrumental in defining our sound on this album.

3.Your lyrics cover mythological and historical themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Most of our lyrics are in French, which may create a bit of mystery, and sometimes confusion. We had this song ''Japetus'' on the previous album, which has been interpreted by many from the standpoint of mythology (Japetus was a Greek titan); however the lyrics are about the former Japetus (or Iapetus) ocean, which we use as a metaphor to our music. We take a great interest in history and culture, but when we incorporate it into our artistic universe it's symbolic or a means to express something. For example, on the new album, we have a song called ''Namolennye'', which uses cultural space and religious objects (icons and iconostasis) to express a certain form of passage and estrangement.

4.I know that the band was named after a city in Siberia, Russia, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

I would say it's isolated, harsh, cold, nordic, vast, and beautiful like our brand of death-doom metal.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Each of us may pick different shows, but mine would probably be the Black Mourning Light Festival in Edmonton, October 2016, and the Earslaughter Festival in Montreal, June 2016. I have been told that our stage performance sheds a different light on Norilsk; I think our shows are equal parts solemn and heavy. This contrast can be witnessed by moments when the music is slow and the crowd is contemplative, and other times when we pick up the beat and deliver solid headbanging.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

The album release show is planned on December 8th, at House of Targ in Ottawa. Mostly because of Winter in this part of the world, we do not plan to hit the road before the Spring. It is our intention to play dates in Central/Eastern Canada in the Spring, with the possibility of a tour later in the Fall. We will definitely consider any reasonable invitation in 2018.

7.On the albums the band works as a duo but has another line-up for live shows, are you open to expanding the line up in the studio?

This is something we will probably discuss and consider every time we hit the studio, so the answer to your question is yes/maybe. Vision, time, commitment, contribution, interpersonal compatibility, and budget are considerations that would continue guiding our decision in that regard. For this last recording session, Nick Richer and I had a clear idea of what we wanted, musically speaking, and our intention was to move through the studio process relatively quickly; this is why we recorded everything just the two of us with engineer Mike Bond, and opted for guest musicians.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of the more dark and extreme genres of metal?

Without pretending to please everyone in these genres, it is clear to me that a majority of dark and extreme music fans are more open-minded than the 'mainstream' type of audience—even when it comes to commercial metal. As you know, black, death-doom, sludge metal and similar genres benefit from a certain niche, which in return provides international reach. Quantitatively, Norilsk probably received more positive comments from UK, or US; but the amazing thing with the underground scene and extreme genres is that there will always be someone across the globe that will listen to your music and connect to it; whether it's in our hometown or in Norilsk, Russia.

9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that the band members are a part of?

It's true that we play in a constellation of bands, and some of these have been very active lately. Nick's long-standing band Outrage AD is scheduled to release an album through Nosral Recordings this Winter; my other band Mortör has released its third album last Spring; I also released an EP with a collective called TGRE in September; our live guitarists Tom and Chris have been busy releasing a split with their band Fumigation last Spring, and Tom released a solo album.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

It's hard to say where this will lead us, but it does not exclude exploration, or revisiting some of the harsher sides of the first album (ex. funeral, or sludge). Among the things we want to maintain however, are elements of both continuity and progression between the albums; like a reference and a dialogue, while we undertake the next chapter.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Le passage des glaciers contains music that was composed from 2013 to 2017; during this period, we drank from the fountain of death-doom to compose this album, especially using influences like Paradise Lost, old Katatonia, October Tide, and Morgion. Having said that, we probably listen to old and new bands equally, and genres ranging from black metal, funeral doom, death, thrash, sludge, post-everything, dark wave, and much more. Tonight, for example, I was listening to the latest Kauan, Bell Witch, and Zao.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

For me, I'd say architecture and history; for Nick Richer, probably photography and beer reviewing.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

I would like to acknowledge the help of our good friend Nic Skog at Hypnotic Dirge Records, who worked hard for releasing and promoting this album, and respecting our artistic vision. Visit the label's website and check out the great black and doom albums released under the HDR banner.

Also, a special thanks to you for your time organizing this interview, and for listening to our music.

ALBUM RELEASE: Norilsk - Le passage des glaciers

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 20:56:58 +0100

Today is the official release of Norilsk's second full-length album "Le passage des glaciers" - an album about mourning and departure and a perfect soundtrack to the cold winter ahead...

Tracklist:

1. Midnight Sun

2. Le puits de l'oubli

3. Namolennye

4. La voie des morts

5. Ghosts of Loss (Passage part I)

6. Noirceur intérieure

7. L'érosion (Passage part II)

8. Ellesmere
You can now stream the album in full on Bandcamp.

If you enjoy it, the album is also available for donation-based download. (name-your-price)

For those who prefer something more tangible, the album is also presented as a 4 panel digipack with a 12 page booklet including the original french lyrics and their english translations.

An official album shirt designed by Misanthropic-Art is also available, as well as limited patches, and stickers.

Everyone who pre-ordered: The delivery of the shirts have been delayed by a couple of days. We're expecting everything here early next week and your order will be shipped out right away.

Thanks a lot for your patience!!

Links:
Order Packs (Shirts, CD's, Patches)
Digital
Norilsk Website
Norilsk Facebook
Norilsk Bandcamp

Bandcamp Player:
<a href="http://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/le-passage-des-glaciers">Le Passage des Glaciers by Norilsk</a>

Teaser Video:

VIDEO PREMIERE: The Sludgelord premieres Norilsk's new lyric video for “Noirceur intérieure”

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 00:39:17 +0100

French-Canadian band Norilsk is back with a captivating new album, as thick and heavy as permafrost. Le passage des glaciers follows in the footsteps of 2015's album The Idea of North, but expands the sound considerably. From a sludgy slab of doom-death, the band has carved further into the icy influences of dark metal, to emerge with a blackened doom-death album tainted with frozen melodies, misty atmospheres, and reflective lyrical passages.

The Sludgelord is premiering Norilsk's video for the new song “Noirceur intérieure”. A hybrid between a lyric video and a music video, it features a storyline developed jointly between the band and Erik Labossiere of Wikked Twist Films, and uses both French lyrics subtitles and their English translation.

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The album speaks about the distance we are forced to develop with the people who left us. It uses North as a metaphor for death, which draws people into the offing and leaves others behind. The song “Noirceur intérieure” (Darkness Within) represents a search for the departed, an eerie walk between dream and reality. It was filmed on a cold November day in Saskatchewan, Canada.

In the words of Erik Labossiere: “I really wanted to tell this story, and to give it my "signature" framing and neo-Victorian/gothic feel but at the same time make sure it felt like a Norilsk video. I really wanted to use that frozen imagery at the start as it reminded me of the album art on previous records and the general feel that Norilsk gives me. Bright and cold.”

Credits: Norilsk - Noirceur intérieure (Official Lyric Video)

From the album: Le passage des glaciers

Filmed and directed by Erik Labossiere

Copyrights Wikked Twist Films / Norilsk 2017

Starring: Sarah Cameron, Damian Smith

Hypnotic Dirge Records is set to release Norilsk's new album Le passage des glaciers on November 24.

Links:
Order Packs (Shirts, CD's, Patches)
Digital
Norilsk Website
Norilsk Facebook
Norilsk Bandcamp