ALBUM REVIEW: Join The Storm – Storm
Although he’s only 16 years old, STORM – real name Leo Davadi Sundli – has built a name for himself in the music scene since he released his debut EP, Invincible, in 2o22. With millions of views across social media, as well as a rapidly growing fanbase and performances at the likes of Download Festival in the UK and Tons of Rock in his home country of Norway, STORM is about to embark on a whole new exciting chapter in his career with the release of his debut album, Join The Storm, a ten-track ride that isn’t limited to only a few select genres. Instead, this is STORM formally introducing himself to the world.
The opening title track is the introduction to the album, where a robotic voice welcomes the listener and thanks them for ‘joining the storm.‘ The beat increases as ‘join the storm‘ is repeated before launching into an electronic dance track that wouldn’t sound out of place in a rave. This dance track continues into the second song, Moonlight, an electronic-metal song that is unlike anything out there as it gives equal footing to the two genres.
This is what makes Join The Storm so impressive. Whether it’s exploring trap and rock (Alien Perspective), metalcore (Walking Dead), or electronic music (Asphyxiate), the album always sounds cohesive. Suffocating shows a slightly softer side to STORM. Backed by a synth-rock beat, the song features Norwegian heavy metal band FIXATION, who feel right at home with STORM. The song also marks the start of a softer side of the album, which continues with Black Hole, which is a pop-punk song, and Fame, a synth-metal song, and Running From My Heart, another synth-heavy rock song.
However, closing song Fever Dreams is the standout track. It features STORM‘s long-time friend, Canadian rapper SNAK THE RIPPER, and it throws every genre into the nearly five-minute track. SNAK THE RIPPER and STORM sound perfect together, despite the different genres. However, as this album has shown, music genres are a thing of the past. Another highlight of this album is STORM‘s voice. Whether he’s doing death growls or singing gently, his voice is as versatile as the music. Throughout the album, the focus is always on his vocals, and the album manages to get the delicate balance between the vocals and instruments without one overwhelming the other.
Overall, Join The Storm is an incredible debut album from such a young artist. It is clear that STORM has grown in both confidence and sound since the release of his EP in 2022. It is daring for an up-and-coming artist to create an album that doesn’t stick to one sound, but Join The Storm manages to do exactly that, whilst also sounding coherent. STORM‘s vocals are incredible and diverse throughout. The addition of the featured artists also add an extra dimension to the album, but – most importantly – never take away from the focus of the album, which is STORM. With a debut album that is this good at the age of 16, the sky is the limit for the new leader of rock.
Rating: 10/10
Join The Storm is out now via Indie Recordings.
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