ALBUM REVIEW: Torem – Nytt Land
Sitting in the deep south of Siberia alongside the Om River is the town of Kalachinsk, the home of the enigmatic and mystical Nordic folk duo NYTT LAND. The Russian duo have been enchanting the world with their truly authentic take on Nordic folk since 2013, and have contributed the rise in popularity of this kind of folk music, alongside WARDRUNA and HEILUNG. With all their lyrics being sung in Old Norse accompanied by a plethora of traditional instruments such as the tagelharpa and the kravik lyre, as well as throat singing, the band’s new album Torem is captivating and enchanting.
What separates NYTT LAND from the likes of WARDRUNA and HEILUNG is the distinctly Russian flavour that they innately add to their music. There’s a bigger emphasis on stringed instruments, Eastern sounding scales and throat singing leading the songs, whereas WARDRUNA and HEILUNG tend to utilise drums, vocals and horns more frequently. This different compositional focus gives you a different perspective on Nordic folk, and in some ways reflects the cultural diversity of the era from which the stories within the lyrics come.
Ethereal and haunting, Torem follows on from where 2021’s Ritual left off, in the eerier realms of Norse mythology and shamanism. With deep, cavernous atmospheres being a significant feature throughout the album, it is easy to imagine yourself in a cave, lit by firelight in the depths of winter asking for a blessing from the merciless gods.
Torem is certainly a more spacious album than its predecessor and what has come before it. Great walls of layered sound form around you, like imposing, dark grey mountains rising out of the mist. With the sound of crows and the wildlife of the forest alongside ritualistic, shamanic drumming, NYTT LAND create music that gives you sense of place, as if you are stepping back in time and connecting with ancient ancestors through a spiritual gateway.
NYTT LAND have always been masters of layering sounds and building tension to create intense listening experiences. With deep, thunderous drums driving each song forward, and the rhythms lulling you into a meditative state, Torem conjures up imagery of a tumultuous spiritual journey through the snowy tundras of the North. Musically, the album has close stylistic similarities with HEILUNG, focusing on the earthy overtones of throat singing and breathy female vocal chants and melodies. Combined with synth layers and the coarse sounds of the traditional instruments the band use, every song feels intense and passionate.
The stories that NYTT LAND have woven into these songs come alive and the history behind them feels ever present as you journey through the album. Huginn Ok Munin stands out in particular as it tells the story of Odin’s ravens of the same name, translated into Thought and Memory. There is nothing more poignant in Nordic folk than the concepts of thought and memory, as NYTT LAND keep the memory of the past alive through modern thoughts and expression.
The album opens up with bird sounds and ceremonial shamanic chanting. Olenmet gives you a small taste of the tone of this album, and breaks from NYTT LAND tradition as it is a stripped back track and not an eerie atmospheric opener. This leads into the gentle chimes of Nord, which then erupts with horns and cinematic atmospherics. This is your first introduction to the intensity of this album – imposing and esoteric, it’s where the ritual really begins. Risu Raknar begins with more eerie chimes before a pounding, shamanic drum beat kicks in with sharp bouts of throat singing. Johem Ar has a distinctly Russian sound; it moves away from the walls of sound created by the drums and utilises the jaw harp and lyre for the first half of the song as it slowly builds into something more cinematic.
Manito and the aforementioned Huginn Ok Munin are intense, esoteric songs. Both have long, swelling synth drones underneath, with the latter also having hypnotic drum rhythms that send you into an enchanted state as you envisage being one of Odin’s ravens flying over the North seeking news from the nine worlds. Rise Of Midgard feels like a call to arms for the einherjar to leave Valholl, go berserk and defend Midgard at Ragnarok. Title track Torem has a similar feel to Nord, plenty of throat singing and ritualistic drumming but it feels significantly more intense. Album closer Iavel sees a horn melody merge with the sound of wildlife and the distinct twang of a jaw harp, as if you are being brought back to earth after a vivid spiritual adventure.
Torem is another wonderfully mystical shamanic journey to add to the NYTT LAND discography. While it doesn’t change the band’s modus operandi too much, it certainly feels darker, more intense, and more mysterious than any album before it.
Rating: 8/10
Torem is set for release on October 6th via Napalm Records.
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