Country: Germany
German metal band Nordstahl take inspiration from Nordic mythology, and fuse it with social commentary. Of course, if you’re like me and don’t speak German, what you’ll hear is epic and pummeling power metal that will have you ready to march into battle.
The blistering “Mjölnir”, named after Thor’s famed hammer, is filled with a stomping rhythm and industrial soundscapes. Yet the electro-rock chorus rides a beat that could still get you dancing in a club if head-banging isn’t your cup of tea. There’s even a soft moment or two that allows the band’s singer to show off his melodic chops.
Even more epic is that crashing “Ragnarök in Berlin.” Comparisons to Rammstein are bound to happen, but the band’s commanding gang choruses and ability to move seamlessly from heavy riffs to atmospheric synths without disrupting the song’s flow show a compositional skill all their own.
Check out this “exzellent” German export in our World Watch Playlist.
The Indy Review 