From their record label’s website, “NORTT is pure Depressive Black Funeral Doom Metal from Odense, Denmark, plaguing humanity since 1995 with celebrated land-mark albums like “Ligfærd” and “Galgenfrist.” Pretty much elusive from social medias and the modern methods of communication between Artists and fans, NORTT appears like a catastrophe on humanity every now and then with a new album and always manages to leave open wounds. Again and as usual, a feral halo of death will cover the world...” The album has eight songs, and “Dødssang” is first. It sounds like the sonic waves that a black hole makes in space…hollow, empty, but very frightening. If you stare too long into the abyss, you will become one with it.

“Dødsengel” is another song of almost pure atmosphere, but creepy piano note accompany the darkness. It feels like night has descended long ago and the sun never comes up as promised. The song crawls with a snail’s pace, and the depression sinks deeply into your soul. It picks up a little, but each riff strike sounds like a hammer putting another nail into your coffin. “Død mands sang” also has very somber piano notes. When you hear them, you turn towards them, only to discover that they are being played by an undead skeleton. It conjures up an image for me of what the earth might look like once humans are extinct…cold, and empty. “Alt er tomhed” seems to build upon the previous songs, heaping even more guilt, shame, and despondence upon the listener. The vocals barely register, sounding like the grumblings of a dying man.

“Ensomhed” is a succession of crushing riffs, one after another, while the background builds a cold and evil ambiance. The added piano notes only increase your suffering. “Ihukom natten” is another devastating song, and it feels like an endless succession of rainy days without sunlight. “Bøn til døden” is a lengthy eight-and-a-half minutes long. There is a gradual increase in sound, as well as an increase in the level of doom that you feel. It starts as a dull pain, grows into a nagging feeling, and eventually, it consumes you. “Udslukt” closes the album, much in the same way it began, with the sounds of the void staring back at you. This album was about as empty as the space between stars in the universe. Each note and each vocal grumbling pushed your further and deeper into darkness, until you were deep enough that there was no escape.