Nordlys (album)

Last updated
Nordlys
Nordlys.jpg
Studio album by
Released28 March 2008
RecordedKlangschmiede Studio E, Mellrichstadt,
Mastersound Studios, Fellbach, Germany
Genre Gothic metal, symphonic metal, folk metal
Length50:01
Language English, Norwegian
Label Napalm
Producer Markus Stock, Alexander Krull, Thorsten Bauer
Midnattsol chronology
Where Twilight Dwells
(2005)
Nordlys
(2008)
The Metamorphosis Melody
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Lords of Metal(82/100) [2]
Metal TempleStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Sea of TranquilityStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Nordlys ("Northern Light" in Norwegian) is the second full-length studio album by the German symphonic/folk metal band Midnattsol. It was released on 28 March 2008 through Napalm Records. [5]

Contents

Background

After three years of the release of their well-received debut album Where Twilight Dwells (2005), Midnattsol decided change direction and to compose an album with dark atmospheres in a melodic and heavy sound, influenced more closely by traditional gothic metal. In contrast, Nordlys is little inspired by Nordic folk metal and it is less introspective that its predecessor.

Particularly noteworthy is the experimentation in the vocals of their lead singer Carmen Elise Espenæs, as well as the extensive dedication in the guitar solos of Daniel Droste and Christian Hector. However, Hector (a founding member), left the group shortly after the release of the album in order to concentrate on his other band Ahab, being briefly replaced by Fabian Pospiech in the three live performances that made Midnattsol in Europe to promote the album.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Carmen Elise Espenæs, except on "Octobre" by Christian Hector; all music is composed by Midnattsol

No.TitleLength
1."Open Your Eyes"5:43
2."Skogens lengsel" ("The Forest's Longing")5:04
3."Northern Light"6:19
4."Konkylie" ("Seashell")8:13
5."Wintertime"5:17
6."Race of Time"5:40
7."New Horizon"2:51
8."River of Virgin Soil"5:37
9."En natt i nord" ("A Night in the North")5:17
10."Octobre" (limited edition bonus track)4:42
Total length:54:43

Personnel

Midnattsol

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liv Kristine</span> Norwegian singer

Liv Kristine Espenæs is a Norwegian singer who has performed and composed songs mostly for various subgenres of heavy metal music. She started her career in the music industry as a vocalist for the gothic metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and is the former lead vocalist for the symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes. She is known for her work in close association with her then-husband and leader of the German band Atrocity, Alexander Krull. Currently she is a singer of a German band Midnattsol alongside her younger sister Carmen Elise Espenæs. She also released a number of solo albums in various genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sins of Thy Beloved</span> Norwegian death-doom/gothic metal band

The Sins of Thy Beloved was a death-doom/gothic metal band from Bryne, Norway, founded in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnattsol</span> German gothic/folk metal band

Midnattsol are a gothic/folk metal band from Germany. The band was founded in 2002 by Norwegian vocalist Carmen Elise Espenæs and German guitarist Christian Hector. The band's name is a modified spelling of the Norwegian word midnattssol, which means 'midnight sun'.

<i>Act III</i> (Death Angel album) 1990 studio album by Death Angel

Act III is the third studio album by the thrash metal band Death Angel, released in 1990 on Geffen Records. This is the band's final studio album to feature guitarist Gus Pepa, and their only recording on Geffen. It was also their last studio album before their ten-year hiatus from 1991 to 2001.

<i>Vinland Saga</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Leaves Eyes

Vinland Saga is the second full-length album by the symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes, released in 2005. It is a concept album that tells the story of the voyage of the Norse explorer Leif Erikson and his discovery of Vinland. The main vocals are by the Norwegian singer Liv Kristine, but some harsh vocals performed by her husband and producer Alexander Krull can be heard on the songs "Solemn Sea", "The Thorn", and "New Found Land".

<i>Lovelorn</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Leaves Eyes

Lovelorn is the debut studio album by the Norwegian/German symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes, released in 2004. Almost all vocals on the album are by Liv Kristine, but there are also some death growls by Alexander Krull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Matter What (Badfinger song)</span> Single by Badfinger

"No Matter What" is a song originally recorded by Badfinger for their album No Dice in 1970, written and sung by Pete Ham and produced by Mal Evans.

<i>Spirit</i> (Eluveitie album) 2006 studio album by Eluveitie

Spirit is the debut studio album by Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie. It was released on 1 June 2006 by Fear Dark Records and re-released by Twilight Records in 2007.

<i>A Rose for the Dead</i> 1997 EP by Theatre of Tragedy

A Rose for the Dead is an EP released by the Norwegian gothic metal band Theatre of Tragedy in 1997. It was the band's last release using the doom metal-influenced sound that Theatre of Tragedy had originally adopted. "A Rose for the Dead" and "Der Spiegel" are leftovers from the Velvet Darkness They Fear recording sessions, which were completed after the release of that album. "As the Shadows Dance" is the English-sung version of the single "Der Tanz der Schatten", while the remixes involved the electro-industrial musician Bruno Kramm of the German duo Das Ich. Finally, "Decades" is a cover version of a Joy Division song, which Theatre of Tragedy had recorded for a Norwegian tribute album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahab (band)</span> German funeral doom metal band

Ahab is a German funeral doom metal band founded in 2004 by Midnattsol guitarists Christian Hector and Daniel Droste. The band is named after Captain Ahab, a character in the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Along with its name, the band also draws thematic and lyrical inspiration from Moby-Dick; some songs even feature direct quotations from the book.

<i>Where Twilight Dwells</i> 2005 studio album by Midnattsol

Where Twilight Dwells is the debut full-length studio album by the German symphonic/folk metal band Midnattsol. It was released on 31 January 2005 through Napalm Records.

<i>The Call of the Wretched Sea</i> 2006 studio album by Ahab

The Call of the Wretched Sea is the debut album by the German funeral doom band Ahab. It was released in October 2006.

Carl Begai is a Canadian music journalist, and author.

<i>My Destiny</i> (EP) 2009 EP by Leaves Eyes

My Destiny is a Maxi single/EP by the symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes, released on 24 July 2009. The songs "My Destiny" and "Northbound" are extracts from the then upcoming album Njord. The rest of the tracks are exclusive to this release.

<i>Njord</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Leaves Eyes

Njord is the third studio album by the German/Norwegian symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes, released on 28 August 2009 on Napalm Records. Njörðr comes from Norse mythology and is a name associated to the Vanir god of the sea and the wind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woods (band)</span> American folk rock band

Woods is an American folk rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2005. The band consists of Jeremy Earl, Jarvis Taveniere, Aaron Neveu (drums), Chuck Van Dyck (bass), and Kyle Forester. The band's former bassist, Kevin Morby, left the band in 2013.

<i>Meredead</i> 2011 studio album by Leaves Eyes

Meredead is the fourth studio album by the German/Norwegian symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes. It was released on 22 April 2011 on Napalm Records. The Deluxe Edition of the album contains a bonus DVD with five songs from a live performance recorded at the Metal Female Voices Fest, in Wieze, Belgium, on 24 October 2010.

<i>Symphonies of the Night</i> 2013 studio album by Leaves Eyes

Symphonies of the Night is the fifth studio album by the German/Norwegian symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes. It was released in Europe on 15 November 2013, and in the US on 26 November 2013, through Napalm Records. The record was produced by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Studio, Germany and features album artwork by Stefan Heilemann. Like previous albums, Symphonies of the Night features songs sung in different languages, including English, Shakespearean English, Norwegian, French and Irish. The album title was said to be inspired by Symphony of the Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.

<i>The Metamorphosis Melody</i> 2011 studio album by Midnattsol

The Metamorphosis Melody is the third studio album by the German symphonic/folk metal band Midnattsol. It was released on April 22, 2011 through Napalm Records.

<i>The Aftermath</i> (Midnattsol album) 2018 studio album by Midnattsol

The Aftermath is the fourth studio album by the German Symphonic/folk metal band Midnattsol. It was released in 2018 on Napalm Records.

References

  1. Bowar, Chad. "Midnattsol - Nordlys". Heavy Metal. About.com . Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  2. Matthijssens, vera. "Theatre of Tragedy - Storm review". Lords of Metal.nl. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  3. Papadopoulos, Harry (9 May 2008). "Midnattsol - Nordlys (CD)". Metal Temple.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. Pierce, Ken; Pardo, Pete (16 April 2008). "Midnattsol: Nordlys". Sea of Tranquility.org. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  5. "Midnattsol Confirm New Album Release Date". metalunderground.com. 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-12-14.