Nornes - Thou Hast Done Nothing

Nornes is a doom metal band from France who formed in 2017. Their latest release “Thou Hast Done Nothing,” is their full-length debut; they have also released two EPs.

Nornes brand of doom is both extreme and not extreme. Their many dense riffs provide crushing moments, pieced together by a bold and confident rhythm section. Punishing death growls speak the prose written, as powerful as any of the instruments.

In these respects, the album is ridiculously heavy. But other elements add sophisticated, sprawling dynamics to their sound. Clean vocals instrumentation that isn't afraid to pull back on the distortion when needed, and long form songs that offer several changes throughout make it an album that even fans of the less extreme doom would enjoy.

And it is suffocating with its atmospheric pressure. Yes, it is obviously doom and therefore heavy but the album doesn't get trapped in its own sound. That aspect is certainly helped by how melodic the songs can be, even in moments of ever present danger. 

“Neverending Failure,” opens with spoken word and cleans—but they foreshadow the extremity that is to come. I love the drums—always interesting, handling the long form and slow songs with heavy grace.  

The vocals are raw, throaty growls that match the tone of the instruments with their own menacing sneer. Cleans are also used, a more old school traditional approach but they sound excellent and fit right in. 

Around the 7 minute mark, the band settles into a strong rhythm that hits like a hammer, slow but precise strikes for maximum damage.

A clean segment follows but its just as deep and dense as the heavier parts with a certain methodical madness to its methods.

“Our Love of the Absurd,” begins with clean tones that grow louder and brighter in my ears until they are joined by bass and drums, their lower end crashing into the mix. The song is now a dirge of melancholy and thick tones that ebb and flows like a lava down a hill. 

I really like the cleans on this song and they share the load with the growls very well, with several fine trade offs as the song grows darker. The solo is fantastic: moody and melodic, fitting perfectly into the structure.

The clean/atmospheric passage that follows is chilling and almost alien. It's an unexpected moment that is essential to the song and I'm glad the band can explore little details like this.

“Oneness,” is the last, and longest, song on the album. To say this is an epic would be an understatement. The long, clean intro that transitions to sweltering riffs and hypnotic drums is pure, mesmerizing doom. 

This song is heavy without being aggressive and the band works well in that parameter. The drums and bass are both interesting enough to keep the rhythm going while letting the riffs exhale their magic.

Nornes is a band I wasn't familiar with before but if they keep making doom metal like “Thou Hast Done Nothing,” then they will remain unforgettable. 

Rating: Excellent