Comparing ambient black and funeral doom releases can be like evaluating different grades of concrete. In this case however, I'd venture to say that Southern Lord has assembled another dank and creepy keeper. NORTT's hard-to-get-happy piano strolls and sullen vocal gurgles are as charming as a deer carcass left on your doorstep. The guitar tones can easily be duplicated, simply by lowering a microphone into a running garbage disposal. But the fog-shrouded gloom processions are just dingy enough to appeal to fans of early PARADISE LOST or DARKTHRONE. The only thing missing is the vinyl lp pops on this digital version.

The mostly-instrumental XASTHUR tracks, while definitely not "Afternoon Delight", ring more subdued and less chainsaw than the NORTT. The absence of vocals and repetitive guitar bits seem like three separate runs in the same mouse wheel. But overall, it's great background music for your visit to see the aftermath of a forest fire.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITES: www.nortt.dk , http://xasthur.mercurous.net

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Doed Og Borte

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