Album Review: Nordic Giants – Origins
Reviewed by Rob Barker
I'll start this review off with a disclaimer, that Nordic Giants are one of my favourite bands. Nevertheless, I will be as objective as possible from now on.
Fucking hell this album is a masterpiece.
Sorry. That just came out.
For those unfamiliar with Nordic Giants, they are a post-rock duo. Their live performances have left many people awestruck, from the small, odd venues (I first saw them in a Walkabout for God's sake), to the halls they can fill with ease, Nordic Giants are a truly mesmerising act. Due to the heavy, unavoidable element of the visual aspect of their shows (for the uninitiated, every song is played to film), one wonders how it might translate to a non-visual format. Oh, it translates just fine, sir. Just. Fine.
Origins kicks in with Together, and it’s as Nordic Giants as you can get. THAT piano tone, THAT energy, and THAT beauty which, even in a genre of many bands, only Nordic Giants are capable of achieving. Speed the Crows Nest goes for a more symphonic and upbeat sound, really showing off how Nordic Giants, even as one of the most inspirational bands in the genre, are able to keep their sound fresh.
Glass Skinned Girl ft Freyja (who featured on Sphere’s on (Nordic Giants’ last album) changes pace to a more chilled (but by no means less awesome) feel, reminding me of Mum/Mr. Silla in its haunting power. Through a Lens Darkly starts slow and keeps growing, growing, growing like the perfect slow-burn movie, engaging fully just when it needs to with fantastic use of the band’s multi-instrumentalist talents.
Shine ft Cate Ferris and The Seed ft Jake Reid come next, showing off Nordic Giants’s unreal songwriting skills, with The Seed especially showing off the more mathy side of the post-rock genre. B.O.A.T.S. brings back the Mr Silla vibes in a much more ethereal, ambient piece, finishing with Dark Clouds Mean War Rework which is, as the title suggests, a rework of the Build Seas, Dismantle Suns ep finale; a great new version of this track and a fine way to finish things.
Origins is truly a journey from start to finish. Passing through the peaks of mountains and ethereal valleys, it is an exhilarating, exciting, emotional journey. A great album for both old and new fans of the band, 100% worth tie time, money and effort to listen to. A must listen.
