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Rating: "The son of the north lost Norway's home… "
"Nordavind" ("The North Wind"), the only full-length album by Storm, released in 1995, clearly shows what a viking folk metal album should be like. Nothing or little to do with other more current bands that bear the same label (or a similar one), perhaps comparable, in the modern scene, only to their compatriots Lumsk.
Storm draws from folk the origins, the roots, the tradition of their land. They combine all this with a cold, glacial, noble sound, embellished by choruses and keyboard synths. Three great artists come together under this name: Fenriz, drummer of Darkthrone and creator of numerous solo side-projects, Satyr, singer of Satyricon, and Kari Rueslåtten. While most of the vocals, mostly clean, are entrusted to the first of the trio, Rueslåtten accompanies them, supports them, refines them, and only rarely takes part in a more substantial singing. Satyr finally takes care of all the instruments and allows himself to burst in on rare occasions with screams in unison with Fenriz's resounding voice. Simple scores, extremely steady rhythms, black-styled riffs similar to Darkthrone and Isengard, yet more melodic and less raw: these are the few technical characteristics of "Nordavind."
The lyrics are nursery rhymes, singing tales extolling the spirit of Norway with some additions to the original songs by Fenriz and Satyr, who inserted a few phrases, to be honest, with explicitly anti-Christian themes (this also led to some disagreements with Rueslåtten, who did not appreciate such religious attacks as they would damage her image). The result? A musical journey. It’s hard not to let oneself be carried away by the folkloric evocativeness of this work: close your eyes and let yourself be led by the soothing voices of the two singers. "Nordavind" makes singing its greatest treasure: Fenriz's, majestic, elegant, dark, and flexible, and Rueslåtten's, more melodious, sweetly velvety, enchanting. Often the two, with such different characters and timbres to the point of being the classic opposites that attract, meet, generating choruses of great harmony. Storm speaks to us of Nordic, rural landscapes, of traditional legends, and mythological creatures in eleven songs that often do not exceed three minutes. Eleven tracks characterized by a strong compositional variety: in addition to tracks with a powerful sound and enhanced presence of riffs like "Mellom Bakkar Og Berg" and "Oppi Fjellet", you will find soothing works exclusively vocal, like "Nagellstev" and "Lokk", and even an intro and an outro entirely dedicated to keyboard and acoustic guitar.
I believe I must make a broader mention of the penultimate piece of the album, "Noregsgard" ("Norway's Home"). A brief, continuous guitar loop explodes into a nostalgic, melancholic melody, opening a breach toward distant visions in space and time, visions of majestic, immense, icy, and deep winters, enriched once again by the precious vocal performances of all three group members. Now you know: if you wish, listen to this CD, and start dreaming.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Mellom bakkar og berg (02:43)
Mellom bakkar og berg ut med havet
heve nordmannen fenge sin heim,
der han sjølv heve tuftene grave
og sett sjølv sine hus oppå deim.
Han såg ut på dei steinute strender;
det var ingen, som der hadde bygt.
"Lat oss rydja og byggja oss grender,
og so eiga me rudningen trygt"
Han såg ut på det bårute havet;
det var ruskut å leggja utpå;
men det leikade fisk ned i kavet,
og den leiken den ville han sjå.
Hyll Nordmannen
Hyll Nordmann
Hyll Nordmannen
Fram på vinteren stundom han tenkte:
Gjev eg var her til evig tid!
Og når nordljoset skinner ifrå oven,
blir hans stålhjerte fylt med grusomt savn.
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BETWEEN HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
(English transelation)
Between hills and mountains out by the sea
the norseman have found his home
where he himself have digged the foundations
and himself has placed his houses upon them.
He stared out on the stone-covered shores;
there was noone, who there had built.
"Let us clear a place and build farms,
and then we will safely own the clearing"
He stared out at the waves on the sea;
it was rough to embark out there;
but fishes played down in the bustle,
and that playing he wanted to see.
Hail norseman!
Hail norseman!
Hail norseman!
In the winter he seldom thought;
If only I were here for ever!
And when the northern lights shines from above
his steelheart is filled with longing.
06 Oppi fjellet (04:02)
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Den tok meg vekk ifra folksom gard
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Og om dykk ikkje har hort det for
Eg blir i Norges land eg til eg dor
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Her i vart rike er alt vart savn
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Kring masse skoger vi slar var favn
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Og er det nokon som ikkje ser
Kvifor vi allrid til mor Noreg ber
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Ja, berg og grastein det eter vi
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Vi skjems av blamenn, vi gar i hi
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Og friske elva den er for oss
Hvis du vil ha den sa ma du slass
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
En grusom dod venter hver en mann
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Som ikke hyller vart faderland
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Ja vi er norske og stolte av det
De kristne kjotere vil jo ikke se
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Na har vi sagt det vi ville si
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
For norske brodre som alt vil gi
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Skogtroll varsler en grusom dod
Der Fenrisulven horte samme glod
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Oppi fjellet, oppi fjellet
Kan dere se han? Kan dere se han?
Se den kristne kjoter'n!
Deng ham opp! Deng ham opp!
Og om du noengang lukter kristenmanns blod
Oppi fjellet
Ja, hent oksa og... kutt dem ned!
English translate: Up In The Mountains
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
It took me away from crowded village
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
And if you haven't hear it before
I'll stay in Norway's land till I die
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Here in our realm is all our longing
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
We embrace the vast forests
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
And is it someone who doesn't see
Why we always to mother Norway pray
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Yes, rock and stones that's what we eat
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
We are disgusted by bluemen, we go to our lairs
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
And the fresh stream it is for us
If you want it then you have to fight
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
A cruel death awaits for each man
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Who doesn't hail our fatherland
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Yes we are norwegian and proud if it
The christian bastards won't see
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Now we have said what we wanted to say
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
For norwegian brothers who'll give all
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
A forest-troll heralds a cruel death
Where the Fenris-wolf heard the same
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Up in the mountains, up in the mountains
Can you see him? Can you see him?
See that christain bastard!
Beat him up! Beat him up!
And if you ever smell christian blood
Up in the mountains
Then get your axe and... chop them down!
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