norilsk-theideaofnorth-reviews

Review from New Noise Magazine

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 05:18:13 +0100

From: New Noise Magazine

Published: September 30, 2016

Norilsk is the northernmost city in Siberia. It is, in fact, the northernmost city of more than a hundred thousand citizens in the world.

Norilsk is a place bound by permafrost with a history that begins with a prison colony. So, The Idea Of North seems apropos of what is alive here battered by the ice and snow. Solitude and long nights. The place where thoughts sour and turn toward the end. Everything on the album is low. Eight tracks where the leaden bass line lumbers. The grooves belly out. Often times throughout the course of the record, I am stilled by Nicholas Miquelon’s vocals, frozen by a dour sense of gravitas.

At first glance, Norilsk, a Gatineau, Quebec two-piece band has produced one of the better doom/sludge rock albums of the year, but it’s not in their riff heavy thrash influenced numbers, like the eight-minute opener, “Japetus” or the crushing “Throa” that follows it up in the mix. These are brilliant standards that can be called innovative for their use of cavernous interludes and finely crafted negative space in the production, but where I find them most compelling is their slower work, the tumbling middle of the album that presses the doom motif forward. Their songs “Potsdam Glo” and “Nature Morte” have a devastating impact, they are wonderfully written songs featuring a few higher guitar riffs, simmering melody and thoughtful passages with dissident psychedelic atmosphere that carries through. It’s hard to divert your attention. Without calling out such ideas by their name, Norilsk delves into heavy, existential concepts on The Idea Of North and their approach to the craft gives credence to the listener’s need to ponder. You can actually come up with a personal response to what all that oblivion might mean.

The Idea Of North follows up 2014’s Japetus a three-song EP, which gathers that song, “Potsdam Glo” along with a Voivod cover. This is the band’s heavier side, a memorable burst, but what has emerged in the ensuing two years that makes them intriguingly unforgettable is a smart use of all the rest of that darkness.

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed by: Erick Mertz

Review from Bucketlist Music Reviews

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 21:37:39 +0100

From: Bucketlist music Reviews

Published: September 27, 2016

Original Link

To all things, there is a season. As the sweltering oppression of summer gives way to the Pumpkin-Spiced fuckery of autumn, Canadians know that little time remains before their existence is plunged into near perpetual darkness and genital-damaging cold. While the yearly ritual of unpacking the winter clothes while gripped with crippling existential dread is certainly tiresome, at least this year the fine fellows who comprise Ottawa-Gatineau sludgy doom outfit Norilsk have provided us with a fitting soundtrack with their new full length record The Idea of North.

Opening track “Japetus” sets a wonderfully foreboding tone with its monolithic riffs and blackened, icy vocals, which combine to evoke the sense of being abandoned in the middle of some frozen wasteland while an all encompassing storm rages around you. While The Idea of North would be a perfectly serviceable moody-doom record if it continued along in similar oppressive fashion, Norilsk’s Nicolas Miquelon and Nick Richer elevate their work by choosing to explore a broader range of sonic and emotional textures. The crushing heaviness of “Japetus” and “Throa” gives way to the contemplative and forlorn “Potsdam Do,” whose haunting vocals and sparse instrumentation brings to mind My Dying Bride or even the dour musings of Stormcrowfleet-era Skepticism (minus all the organ). The whispered vocals and chilling sound effects of “Nature Morte” see the band delve even further into the icy void before roaring back to life with “La Liberte Aux Ailes,” a track whose driving beat and swaggering riff seem purposefully built for leading a group of Vikings on a particularly kick-ass march across the tundra.

While I could get nitpicky about some of the guitar tones used on The Idea of North, Miquelon and Richer demonstrate a profound attention to detail and nuance when it comes to composition and overall sound choice. All of the added atmospheric synth and layered vocal sounds blend in seamlessly, and add appropriate flavor without ever feeling cheesy or overwrought. The tiny details, such as the single triangle chime near the beginning of “La Grande Noircoeur,” are subtle but essential parts of the record’s whole.

As a popular book and television series is fond of reminding you, Winter is Coming. Until the eradication of human life on earth and/or the inevitable heat-death of the Universe, no amount of complaining is going to keep you from winter’s chilly embrace. With that cheery thought in mind, I highly suggest giving The Idea of North a spin while you sit by the window awaiting that first, beautiful snowflake.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Jesse Gainer

Review from SicMaggot

Sat, 10 Oct 2015 21:25:17 +0100

From: SicMaggot Webzine
Published: October 7, 2015
Original Link

Rozum by velel hledat doomové duo Norilsk někde na vzdáleném východě, uprostřed neprostupných vrstev sněhu ruské Sibiře. Jenže ačkoli to není úvaha úplně scestná a město Norilsk na Sibiři skutečně rok co rok promrzá, samotná kapela se usídlila v o poznání lidštějších podnebných podmínkách. Svetry, čepice a kabáty však nezahazujme, kanadský Quebec taky není místem z kategorie nejteplejších. Zpět ale k sibiřskému Norilsku. Právě jeho ulice o kanadských hudebnících leccos prozrazují. Nalezené fotky mluví za vše – těžká deprese. K fotografiím se pak oddaně připojují i fakta. Máme-li věřit věrným internetům a nejmenovaným encyklopediím, tak právě toto ruské město patří vzhledem ke špinavé těžbě k těm nejznečištěnějším na světě. No, a že se tu nacházel jeden ze sovětských gulagů a cizincova noha sem dodnes nesmí, to už je jen takový milý bonus. Kolem a kolem, i když si Kanaďané na fascinaci post-sovětským světem patent neudělají (vzpomeňme na Minsk, Russian Circles či Курск – a to se jen stále točíme kolem doomu, post-metalu a podobných záležitostí), název mluví jasnou řečí.

Přestože oběma hudebníkům táhne na 40 (minimálně v případě jednoho z nich je to i internetově dohledatelné), Norilsk – tedy to doposud nejpozoruhodnější – založili teprve před třemi lety. Dva roky po vzniku vychází ve skrytosti první EP a letos tu je i plnohodnotný debut, který již vydávají krajané z Hypnotic Dirge Records. V tu chvíli je třeba zbystřit, tady totiž vychází moc zajímavé avantgardně laděné metaly. Netra, Epitimia, Ekove Efrits, Verlies a tak.

Zatímco výše zmínění koketují různými způsoby s experimentem, Norilsk jsou v labelové rodině spíše za tradicionalisty. I oni ale mají svou tvář, a ačkoliv místy působí „The Idea of North“ velmi konzervativně, několik pasáží boduje svou netradičností. Základním stavebním kamenem desky je doom metal, a to bez jakýchkoliv pochybností. I když Kanaďané uhnou z hlavní cesty – a stává se to nejednou –, táhlé heavy riffy, pro doom natolik typické, zmizí jen párkrát. Naopak přístup ke skládání zůstává stálý. Norilsk nikam neuhánějí, což není jen otázkou pomalého tempa, ale také pomalého rozvíjení jednotlivých hudebních konstrukcí. Skladby zpravidla začínají jednoduchým kytarovým motivem, s nímž je v rámci písně rozvážně pracováno. Gradace je pomalá a trpělivost se hodí. Místy působí „The Idea of North“ až nepříjemně utahaně a člověk má chuť přeskakovat. Na druhou stranu, neděje se tak často a i ty méně záživné kousky jako „Planète heurt“ nebo „Potsdam Glo“ netrpí neposlouchatelností.

Zatímco začátek desky působí nepůsobí nikterak výjimečně, ke konci již Kanaďané významným způsobem koření. Dominuje-li začátku rozvážná fúze na pomezí doomu, sludge a doom/death metalu, v polovině hrací doby přebírá veslo důraz na atmosféričnost. Právě toto je moment, kdy se Norilsk daří vybruslit z obstojně poslouchatelného (lepšího) průměru a následně zamířit do nadprůměrných sfér. Předznamenání přichází již po úvodní čtvrthodince. „Throa“ působí oproti úvodní zatěžkanosti velmi svěže, a i když tady se Norilsk ještě vrátí k původnímu výrazivu, první krůček je na světě. Řádný krok za zajímavějším pojetím přichází až s pátou „Nature morte“ – úplná rezignace na doomový podklad i doposud neodmyslitelný murmur. Klidné kytarové linky, skvělý šepot a až mysteriózní perkuse ukazují nejen na nejlepší skladbu celé desky, ale především na fakt, že Norilsk jsou v této poloze o třídu lepší. Podobné výrazivo užívá i „La grande noirceur“, která se však staví spíše do role předzvěsti závěrečného titulního tracku. A není titulním nadarmo. Ačkoliv nepřekonává skvělou „Nature morte“, propojuje oba kapelou naznačené světy a devítiminutovou stopáž bez problému utáhne.

Je zvláštní mluvit v souvislosti s albem vyprodukovaným dvojicí středního věku o potenciálu či příslibu do budoucna. V tu dobu je většina kapel na vrcholu, ne-li za ním, vydává desku za deskou a užívá si chvíle větší či menší slávy. Naproti tomu Norilsk debutují. Debutují dobře, nadprůměrně a pakliže se vydají na cestu správným směrem, nemusíme se mít jen dobře, ale rovnou výborně.

Reviewed by: Skvrn

Review from Friedhof Magazine

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 18:28:30 +0100

From: Friedhof Magazine

Published: August 27, 2015

Original Link

Estamos ante el primer trabajo de larga duración de la banda canadiense Norilsk, que deben su nombre a la ciudad más grande de Siberia, y que además está formada por sólo dos componentes que llevan a cabo la ejecución de todos los instrumentos necesarios. El por qué han escogido este nombre lo desconozco, pero ya pudimos verlo en la portada del EP que lanzaron el año pasado, en el que se encuentran algunas canciones que pasarían a formar parte del CD que analizamos aquí, titulado “The Idea of North”.

El Doom a secas es un género que me gusta como tal, aunque me cansa con bastante rapidez, pero cuando se mezcla con Death la cosa cambia. En este conjunto de nueve pistas encontramos de todo un poco: secciones muy Doom, otras tirando más al Death con voces guturales, otras más melódicas, otras más pausadas e incluso depresivas, etc. En global es una mezcla muy completa y, ¿por qué no decirlo?, que suena brutal.

Sí es verdad que algunas canciones cortan un poco el ritmo de las anteriores o posteriores, dando lugar a la fácil distinción entre ellas, pero al fin y al cabo se fusionan bastante bien. Si eres fan del género te resultará un CD divertido de escuchar casi con total seguridad ya que, aunque ya hemos comentado que tiene algunas desviaciones hacia otros estilos, los ritmos lentos y pesados siguen estando ahí, al igual que las voces apagadas que tan bien ejecuta Nicolas.

Como tema a destacar del disco encontramos el cuarto, “La liberté aux ailes brisées”, una canción que rompe con todo lo anterior y presenta unas melodías en las guitarras presentes durante los seis minutos de duración y que crean una atmósfera espectacular. Sin duda, os guste el género o no, deberíais darle al menos una reproducción a esa pista.

Rating: 8.25/10

Review from The Pit of the Damned

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 18:24:52 +0100

From: The Pit of the Damned

Published: August 27, 2015

Original Link

La Hypnotic Dirge Recors sarà anche rimasta in standby per un po' di tempo, ma dopo che le attività sono riprese presso l'etichetta canadese, le cose sono andate migliorando con una serie di uscite interessanti: i Verlies, gli Atten Ash e questi Norilsk. Curioso come il nome derivi da quello di una città siberiana, e quando penso alla Siberia, associo inevitabilmente il tutto a gelidi suoni funeral doom. I canadesi Norilisk non vanno proprio cosi distanti dal genere. Lo attesta il riff posto in apertura a "Japetus", che introduce il sound sofferto del duo del Québec; diciamo che rispetto al doom tradizionale o al funeral doom dell'est Europa, la proposta dei nostri rimane un po' più atmosferica ma assai complicata da digerire. La musicalità della band non è di cosi facile assimilazione, data una certa dissonanza di fondo nelle linee melodiche e dalla presenza di un avvolgente manto di malignità che pervade la song (e il disco), anche a livello vocale, con lo screaming acido di Nicolas ad alternarsi al suo malefico growl. In "Planète Heurt" ecco il rallentamento tenebroso che stavo aspettando, e a salire quella sensazione di respiro affannoso dovuto a un luogo angusto che degenera in uno stato d'ansia. Il senso di asfissia va peggiorando man mano che la song procede a rallentatore, per poi dissolversi improvvisamente quando uno splendido assolo restituisce quella serenità che sembrava andata perduta. In "Throa" il sound malsano dei nostri, qui dotato di una vena di Celtic Frost memoria, macella non poco i nostri timpani per la sua monoliticità di fondo, interrotta fortunosamente da "La Liberté Aux Ailes Brisées", song di più ampio respiro, soprattutto per la freschezza delle sue chitarre. Cosa attendersi invece da un brano intitolato "Nature Morte"? Poco in realtà, se non suoni che potrebbe accompagnare la visione di un frutto morso lasciato su un tavolo, o meglio, un teschio abbandonato. Il disco prosegue nella sua compattezza con l'orrorifica "Potsdam Glo", un breve pezzo strumentale e la title track, "The Idea of North", che lungo i suoi nove minuti, sfodera probabilmente la miglior performance del duo nord americano, offrendo un doom sorretto da una bellissima e suadente chitarra black che impreziosisce il brano con una certa vena malinconica, in quella che è la song più completa di questo aspro e indigesto lavoro, capace di incutere timore ma anche grande curiosità. La conclusione del disco è affidata a "Coeur de Loup", altra traccia costituita da suoni cupi e a tratti teatrali nella sua manifestazione vocale. Decisamente ardui da affrontare, i Norilisk in questo disco aprono nuovi orizzonti sonori nell'ambito doom.

Rating: 75/100

Reviewed by: Francesco Scarci

Review from Metal Temple

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:17:56 +0100

From: Metal Temple

Published: July 15, 2015

Original Link

The thing about Sludge, Doom and even Grunge, is that because the general pitch of the music is so deep and the tempo so slow, it can sometimes be hard to find the rhythm of the songs. Not only that, but the vocalists often struggle to settle on a style that matches the music. The benefit of one man running the show, as is the case with NORILSK, is that Nicolas Miquelon can establish his own creative vision and pursue it without having to cater to the wishes of other band members. For some this may be a recipe for disaster, but here all the ingredients pull in the same direction to produce a record that clearly belongs in a certain corner of the music industry, but at the same time demonstrates a level of imagination that could quite easily convert non-believers (such as myself).

The title track “The Idea of North” is a great example of this point, as while it generally sticks to the slow, grinding tempo we’re used to in Sludge, it is also brave enough to up the ante during one or two sections and allow the guitars to rip open the genre with an unexpected display of speed.

Another respectable part of the record is how keen Miquelon is to just allow the music to speak for itself. There are no excessive displays of growling or annoyingly overzealous death-roars here; if no vocals are needed, then no vocals are present. That said, this isn’t to say that the lyrical sections are unwelcome. In fact, the delivery is at times well above average and does a good job of sounding suitably atmospheric.

All in all, this is an unusually well-rounded Doom Metal album, which has been well-produced and composed so that the end result is its best creative and varied. I could personally listen to this album a few times in a row without growing tired of it, and that alone is indication enough that it is something special as I’m not normally a fan of the genre. One possible weakness is its relatively short length of just over 40 minutes, but in my mind, it is far better to leave us wanting more than to force feed us until we choke. Congratulations, NORILSK.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Jacob Dawson

Review from Chronicles of Chaos Webzine

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 00:10:26 +0100

From: Chronicles of Chaos

Published: July 8, 2015

Original Link

Basically, if you have this album in your hands, you don't really need Norilsk's EP "Japetus", unless you are eager to hear the brilliant Voivod cover the band performed on that EP. The remaining couple of (original) tracks off "Japetus" are presented also on this debut full-length in their entirety and in the exact same version as they had appeared before.

That leaves us with six entirely new tracks (and a couple of excellent older tracks that one could listen to time and again). It doesn't really matter whether you know Norlisk's previous work or are being acquainted with this Canadian duo for the very first time; Norilsk's exciting and original approach to doom/death metal is something everybody should be exposed to, at least once.

"The Idea of North" is a pulsating and writhing beast, towering like a skyscraper's silhouette over the landscape, blackening it with dark shades of negativity. Norilsk have sort of developed a unique sound; they kind of tune their guitars all the way and deep into the fuzz-mode, so eventually the album sounds like a fuzz-rock (a mixture of psychedelic, space and garage rock) sonic gallery, removed from the traditional sound of doom/death. Add to this the excellent, ominous growls of the frontman, and you have got yourself one wacky, strange and beautiful an album. Norilsk execute an impressive set of strong riffs, that are both rather original and extremely powerful, their richness enables the rather skeletal music to sound grander and much richer.

It's one thing to write good music; it's a whole other thing to invent a new language, a new aesthetic, where song writing, atmosphere and individuality coalesce and give birth to this strange new kid on the block. The album's purity, its absolutely conservative methodology, clashing with newer, progressive ideas, allows it to sound traditional but also like a completely new experience, a new sonic language.

Mysterious, heavy, slightly bizarre and desolate, "The Idea of North" is a strange album depicting strange vistas; its fuzz uplifting, its growls and sad lullabies dispiriting -- and when mixed, they herald a new dawn for doom/death metal.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Chaim Drishner

Review from Doomed and Stoned

Sat, 04 Jul 2015 09:23:21 +0100

From: Doomed and Stoned

Published: July 2, 2015

Original Link

It’s summer, I know, but it’s time to bundle up real good, because we’re about to go on a rather frigid and icy trek into the long night. Fair warning: with each breath you take, your lungs will scream in freezing agony. Listen the howling of the wind, feel as it burns your face. The blinding orange sky is all around us as push ourselves forward in the numbing intensity of the northern Canada landscape.

This is the imagery that Norilsk create on their 2015 record The Idea of North. Norilsk is a doom band from Gatineau, Québec, comprised of Nicolas Miquelon who plays guitar, bass and sings, while Nick Richer plays drums and offers vocals, as well. Together, they muster such a large sound that I was really surprised and impressed to discover Norilsk are a duo. Mostly considered a doom band, the sick guitar tone hints at sludge, while the harsh vocals give it death metal feel. The Idea of North is very atmospheric, which conjures for listeners a very chilly Artic experience.

This gruesome expedition into the unknown commences with “Japetus” (which the band released as an EP in January of 2014, along with “Posdam Glo” and a cover of Voivod’s “Negatron”). Norilsk set the scene for the rest of this record with this grim opener. The riffs are huge pillars of doom met by a penetrating melody, and together these two forge work together, instead clashing. Macabre death, yet decipherable, vocals make their presence known and this, along with the steady, walking pace up the snowy mountain side, give Norilsk a boundless, bottomless sound. It’s depressing, almost stagnant and weary…and I can’t get enough of it.

For the next track, Norilsk slow things down even more with “Planéte Heurt.” It seems that the driving force here is the bass playing, which adds incredible weight. The bass hammers away, perfectly executed, in fact, throughout the record. Nicolas’ voice is so desolate and bleak that it’s truly unlike anything I’ve heard. Sophisticated guitar melodies float over the crushing tidal wave of riffs, matched with melancholic vocals as we descend even further into the polar sonic abyss.

There’s a pickup in speed to be found on this record, as well. Skip ahead to the fourth track, “La liberté aux ailes brisées,” and you’ll see what I mean. Notice the mid-tempo riffing action, complimented by infectious melody. For that reason, this track is an absolute stand out, showing just how deep an understanding of doom Norilsk possess.

Another thing that won’t go unnoticed is the use of the French language in these songs, as opposed to the standard English we’re used to hearing in our metal. I really like this touch because it adds a sort of grim mystery to the story. This is best displayed in the next song, “Nature Morte.” Norilsk tone things down some through an intriguing guitar plucking and whispering voices - something that reminds me of Yob in one of their quiet moments. This slow mantra continues for the length of the song and, while I enjoy the balance, this track brings to Idea of North, it creates a tension that doesn’t develop far enough for me.

A majestic Candlemass-like intro ushers us into “Potsdam Glo,” but quickly make a dreary turn as those bone chilling vocals take over. Intricate melodies dance all over the place, while the dense vocals flatten everything in sight. There are touches of traditional doom to be found on this track and the guitar solo at the end showcases Norilsk’s brilliance.

Check out the next track, “La Grande Noirceur,” for something a bit more haunting than what we’ve heard so far. It’s a two-minute funeral track preceding the album closer. This instrumental is led by a solitary guitar proclamation escorted by a sedated, blackened fog which leads directly into the title track.

More of those blackened riffs are back, as well as the death-doom melody we have, by now, all come to crave. However, it’s still shrouded in mystery that keeps “The Idea of North” a very obscure song. This track (the longest of the record) is the real embodiment of the Norilsk sound, as Herculean riffs dance along furiously like wind-swept drifts of snow.

Just like the bitter and discordant domain Norilsk evoke with The Idea of North, some listeners may find themselves in that same numbing cold. While most veteran doom fans will come see this record for the heavy, melodic triumph that it is, those new to the genre (and specifically the sub-genre of death-doom) may find the album a bit plodding, in part due to the lurking tempo. For those that have an unyielding grasp on the world of doom, The Idea of North is an adventurous trip through forbidding landscape of the northern Canadian wilderness, with painfully slow death-doom and melancholic melodies in the vein of Thergothon and My Dying Bride. All things considered, this is some brilliant sonic worship.

Reviewed by: Melissa Marie

Review from Wings of Death Webzine

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 20:56:14 +0100

From: Wings of Death Webzine

Published: June 6, 2015

Original Link

Over het Canadese Norilsk schreef ik in juli vorig jaar, toen EP Japetus als het ware de aankondiging was voor het aanstaande debuutalbum. Dat album is inmiddels verschenen, met de titel The Idea of North, en bevat naast de twee nummers van de EP nog zes nieuwe tracks; en opnieuw een cover. Die laatste, Coeur De Loup, is als bonus de afsluiter van het album, en een bewerking van de doorbraak van de Belgische zanger Phillipe Lafontaine. Een zeer opmerkelijke keuze wanneer je het origineel eens beluisterd hebt. Dat geeft wat mij betreft de eigenzinnigheid van Norilsk dan ook perfect weer.

Ok, vooraan beginnen maar. Nou ja bijna. Opener Japetus kennen we al van genoemde EP, en vind ik veelbelovend voor wat komen gaat. In de basis horen we klassieke death/doom, die in de geest van de moderne tijd wordt aangevuld met sludge en postrock, of beter gezegd stiekem een beetje atmosferische black. Het feit dat in het Frans gezongen wordt geeft de sfeer nog een extra dimensie. Het nummer blijkt een uitstekend uithangbord van wat Norilsk te bieden heeft.

Planète Heurt beweegt zich voort in een uitermate traag tempo, en belichaamt daarmee de ware doomgedachte. Hoewel de zang hier wat melodieuzer lijkt, toont de sfeer zich des te grimmiger; verontrustend is misschien wel een goed woord. De spetterende gitaarsolo (of is het gewoon een aaneenschakeling van black metal/tremolo-riffs?) halverwege vind ik behoorlijk verrassend, past eigenlijk niet goed binnen de opgebouwde sfeer, maar werkt op een of andere manier toch wel. Knap gedaan, en opnieuw: dit tekent de eigenzinnigheid van Norilsk.

Het is niet alleen trage doom dat de band voortbrengt. Zo bevat La Liberté Aux Ailes Brisées een behoorlijk catchy midtempo riff, je zou er vrolijk van kunnen worden, ware het niet dat dat in deze context natuurlijk niet gepast is. Om dat af te straffen zijn het nummers als Potsdam Glo - ook al bekend van de EP - en het machtige afsluitende titelnummer The Idea Of North die de grootste somberheid belichamen. Krachtig, episch bijna, waarbij de sfeer regelmatig doet denken aan de klassieke epiek van een band als Candlemass. Daartussen worden we nog getrakteerd op kortere sferische intermezzo's als Nature Morte en La Grande Noirceur.

Norilsk levert met The Idea Of North een volwassen doomplaat af, die vooral qua sfeer sterk overkomt. Duister en koud, zodat het de bandnaam eer aan doet (Norilsk is de meest noordelijke stad in Siberië en ligt dus boven de poolcirkel). Net even iets anders dan het standaard epische doomwerk.

Reviewed by: Chris

Review from Lords of Metal Webzine

Wed, 20 May 2015 00:23:20 +0100

From: Lords of Metal Webzine

Published: May 16, 2015

Original Link

The demo 'Japetus' by Canada's Norilsk left me wanting to hear more. Now 'The Idea Of North' has been released, I can wholeheartedly tell it was worth the wait. The music this duo delivers, is hardly comparable to any other doom band. Basically this can be described as death/doom mixed with some sludge and a bit of post metal. Add the vocals in the French language and you have a pretty good picture of Norilsk. By the way, the lyrics are also available in English in the booklet.

If I should mention some names you could compare Norilsk to I have to mention the same bands like I did in my review of the demo, namely Thergothon, old My Dying Bride and Celtic Frost. If you can imagine what that is like you are on the right track. You can also convince yourself by listening to the album through the clip below. That will tell you a lot more because I notice it is really difficult to put to words what the music of Norilsk is like. In fact that is a compliment to the band as it proves they recorded something special. What also is special is the fact Norilsk recorded a cover of the moderate hit 'Coeur de Loup' by Belgian artist Philippe Lafontaine. That also proves the headstrong attitude of Norilsk. I can only advise to buy this album as soon as possible.

Rating: 85/100

Reviewed by: Pim B.