Midnattsol's rise within metal community was probably a bit premature. They're a so-called "gothic metal" band, fronted by Carmen Elise Espanæs, who just happens to be the sister of Liv Kristine (Theatre of Tragedy, Leaves' Eyes). Instant exposure! But at least they live up to some of the hype. Their full-length debut, Where Twilight Dwells, was a solid album, even though it was a faceless album in a sea of faceless albums (i.e. unoriginal).
On Nordlys, they haven't deviated from that style much. But I don't look for originality; I look for quality, and to their credit Midnattsol has kicked the songwriting up a few notches on this album. It's a bit heavier, faster, and catchier. While still not original, this album is much better than a lot of similar albums out there. The limited edition—which I bought—also has a badass bonus track called "Octobre", sung entirely by guitarist Daniel Droste. Male vocals add a nice dynamic to the band; they should have used him on other tracks. He actually sounds like Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity), when he sang in a clean tone on Projector. Either way, if you like this style of music, definitely pick this one up.
Video: Northern Light
Video: Octobre
Video: Desolation (from Where Twilight Dwells)
Website: http://www.midnattsol.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/midnattsolfolk
Note: Many of these links are external. In time, they may become obsolete.
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