Customer Reviews

Mirror of Madness

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD definetely has to be one of VERY few CDs in my opinion and collection that gets around 6,000 stars. I just can't find anything wrong with it! One thing that might catch you from the beginning is having a bonus video clip for the title track. It's pretty decent, but clips like "Kiss of Judas" are better.

Many of you might be wondering just how much you'll love this album because you love Children of Bodom but can't figure out what they do that sounds like Children of Bodom. For starters, you'll think Alexi is on vocals - this guy sounds that much like C.o.B.'s main singer. However, this BEATS Children of Bodom in my opinion. Their new CD is thrashy and too heavy. Also, Alexi sounds more like a hardcore vocalist too often. Back on Follow the Reaper, Children of Bodom was a great death power band. Combine the style of older Children of Bodom keyboards with normal death metal music and you should get Norther. Anyone heard of Skyfire? They also fit into this equation of keyboard-death metal. You should find the music to be not too heavy, nor guitar driven. You won't hear Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility, or Amon Amarth at all. This is completely melodic - no hardcore. For the most part, if Children of Bodom is your favorite band for that reason, then Norther is bound to be your new at least second favorite.

The biggest way Norther sounds like Children of Bodom is that this is mainly power metal (Sinergy comes to mind here) with OUTSTANDING keyboards and a death vocalist. Also, the guitarring that is here is very melodic. The bass is not too heavy, which is Amon Amarth's and crew problem. Those bands also need more keyboards. The overall speed of the CD is much like Children of Bodom's new CD, Hate Crew Deathroll.

Onto the cover art. It should set the stage for an arctic feeling, right? Well, it does! So imagine combining Sonata Artica's capabilities (I can't say to combine HOW Sonata Artica does it) with, again, Children of Bodom, and you arrive at the new wonder, Norther.

Have you seen the Rocky movies? Particularly the first one, I believe. Norhter, on their last CD, did a cover of "Final Countdown". That might also help you in making your decision.

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Finland definately has some great bands that comes out from its fridgid temperatures yearly. Amorphis, Children of Bodom, Sentenced, Kalmah, are just a few. However, when I purchased Norther's Mirror of Madness, I found yet another great album and band from Finland.
Now, I should get this out of the way first and foremost before going on. Norther does sound like Children of Bodom on Bodom's album Follow the Reaper, but only in two aspects. Number one, the vocals. The vocals definately sound like Alexi Laiho, I mean, almost indestinguishable. Not that this is a bad thing, but people could get confused if they don't know who Bodom is to begin with. Like COB, Norther uses a dual guitar attack with melodic and harmonizing keyboards. Unlike Children of Bodom however, Norther uses their keyboards more as a seperate independent entity, meaning the keyboards are more in the background then in Children of Bodom, who uses their keyboards heavily to influence the guitars, especially the leads. Norther uses the keyboards not to necessarily flow with the guitars, but to compliment them in certain fills, and to be used as a completely seperate instrument.
As I mentioned eariler, vocalist Petri Lindroos sounds almost exactly like Alexi. However, he also plays lead guitar, like Alexi...but hes an excellent guitarist with some blazing solos on this album. Now even though he even looks like Alexi, could probably pass as his long lost brother, right down to the black painted finger nails, this is only a very eerie thing I am pointing out to anyone who watches the bonus video that comes on the USA version.
Now the music itself. Norther's music is much more mid tempo and mid paced then bands like Kalmah and Children of Bodom. Where as Kalmah is more black metal, and Bodom is much more fast paced thrash, Norther goes inbetween and blends very nicely, a mixture of mid paced, melodic thrash black metal. The guitars, like a lot of Finland bands, sounds like there is a lot of chorus or reverb on them to give them that special "Finland" sound. Even though some of the songs on this album are mid paced, Norther does pick it up pretty damn fast in songs such as "Blackhearted" and the title track "Mirror of Madness". The bass on this album is heavy hitting, with some impressive lines that compliment the hammering drums nicely.
The one thing that makes Norther stand above Children of Bodom are the lyrics. Where as Children of Bodom's lyrics are very short, not seemingly to be well thought out, and just thrown onto an album as an after thought, Norther's lyrics are much more in depth, and more well written.
Is Norther better then Children of Bodom? In my opinion no, but they sound great anyway and I look forward to many more releases from this band.
Memorable Tracks: Blackhearted, Unleash Hell, Mirror of Madness

When it comes to buying an album in the death metal catergory I always look for melodeath and clear strutured melodic riffs. I found all I wanted in this album. I was not disappointed at all as it was definitely an album that "caught my ear" as you might say. This is definitely a striking album well worth buying, which is what I am pleased about. The melodies combined within the music fit perfectly and are structured so uniqely. Mirror of Madness is one of my favourite songs here because it is so different in parts,almost epic. Unleash Hell, just from that powerful beginning gets my heart thudding.However this is not some of their heavy stuff , it is certainly amongst the most blatantly melodic and admirable.

After a very harsh beginning, Norther was finally able to reach a standing debut entitled -Dreams Of Endless War-. It was a rounding success, but Norther was acclaimed as Children Of Bodom rip-offs or sound-alikes. To me, Norther has their own uniqueness that separates them totally from what Children Of Bodom offer. First of all, COB shred fast with blazing solos and chugging riffs that pound the living daylights out of the listener, while atop Alexi's one and only vocals. Norther however, takes a more melodic approach with less speed and more dynamics, while atop vocals that are shy of Alexi's. One thing for sure, these guys are almost unheard on an international level, although since their latest one they have been garnering attention in Europe and Japan, rather than just Finland.


"Blackhearted" and "Betrayed" are almost identical in riffs, but their tunes separate with the fast rhythm and keys. "Cry" is my second favorite, chugs with a great riff and chorus. The two highlights are the keyboard solo, which is beautiful and majestic in all aspects, and the guitar solo, which by no means breaks any new grounds, but is extremely catchy and fun. "Dead" is entirely slow and begins with a riff similar to In Flames' "Bullet Ride". The break is the keyboard turn and the guitar solo in the middle.

My favorite comes last with the title track, "Mirror Of Madness". This was their only video from this album for a good reason. A very frosty riff and guitar backdrop linger behind Petri's pissed off vocals. The guitar solos in this are very exquisite and fast. The album ends with the track playing one of the best endings, with fast shredding and a lasting tune after the words "Forever Gone!"

Whether you are Thrash, Death, Black, or Power, any Metal fan would not be content without this record in his or her library. Yes, it is worth it to get the version that has bonus tracks, as those tracks have signature tunes to them as well. Nine tracks of devotion, emotion, and pure Metal from one of Finland's finest.

Ok, like many others have said, Norther does sound like Children of Bodom in many ways, but they do have their own sound, it just doesn't jump out at you right away. But if you listen closely and more than once, you will find that Norther is not a "Bodom ripoff" as some have said. The keyboards are used for more than just dueling solos and the guitars are not tuned down on this album, as opposed to COB who does tune lower. There is a lot of melodic riffing and soloing, with some very harsh vocals to boot. Petri Lindroos is a strong vocalist in the vein of Alexi Laiho, but again, with a few listens, you'll be able to distinguish his voice from Alexi's. Overall, a good listen and worth your money - I still prefer Children of Bodom over this band, but that doesn't take away from the skill that this Finnish band has. Check 'em out.

Seriously, how can you not like this stuff? It's halfway between Children of Bodom and Kalmah, with a little more black metal than COB but not as much as Kalmah, some extremely cool piano lines, and the most "majesty" in sound you'll find this side of Emperor or Blind Guardian. If you like metal with melody, if you like Finland, you cannot help but like this band.

The title pretty much says it.
Now don't get me wrong this band isn't BAD by any means. However, like another reviewer said, there are other bands who do melodic deathmetal so much better.
One undeniable problem this album has is like everything else Norther has ever released: it's like a run on sentence and is flat-out boring. The only songs that do not sound like they run on are Blackhearted and the title track. Blackhearted is actually one of the best songs I have ever heard, with an intelligent chorus melody, incorporation of good piano work, and decent metal vocals. The lyrics are awesome too - that is one semi-strong point Norther retains, is the strength of its lyrics. That and the title track are the only standout reasons I see for buying this. I'd recommend downloading Norther (if you can since they're a rare band) before buying first, to see if you like them. Just get Blackhearted, it's all you ever need.

"Your hatred's growing on
it's growing strong, and the devil's born
releasing poison to a mind
which is already torn
last days of innocence, now waste yourself, have no regrets
tomorrow is today, you'll lose your soul, you'll burn in hell"


Summary: Good if you want a change of pace and some random band you've never heard before. Listen to the lyrics and some of the guitar riffs, they're the only thing keeping this band going strong.
Rating: 100% for Blackhearted and the title track and Betrayed, 45-50 percent for rest of album.

Never failing to amaze, Norther delivers another great album. Right on par with Death Unlimited, Mirror of Madness really shows what Norther is capable of. The songs, while sticking to the death metal core, all feature a piano part that sounds like chorus, adding an almost epic sound to the songs. This is a great album to introduce yourself to this band.

A lot of listeners seem to think that Norther is, essentially, a Children of Bodom knockoff. And, while there is no doubt that the bands have similar styles and approaches, I don't think this assessment could be further from the truth. Music is full of mimicry and imitation. Melodic death metal is no different in that regard, and there is no doubt that Norther have looked to Children of Bodom for musical inspiration.

But the similarities aren't as strong as some may think. Norther is less synth driven (and, thus, has a much lower "cheese" factor than does CoB) and, in my opinion, has better vocals and generally better songwriting. Nowhere is this showcased better than on this album. Every song here is strong, with "Blackhearted," "Betrayed," "Midnight Walker," and the title track as real standouts. Aggressive, guitar driven, and musically impressive, Norther has really set themselves apart with this album, and has left an indelible mark on metal.

Yeah.. it sounds like bodom, but they are not copying them at all. Keyboard solos, fast guitar riffs and almost identical vocals. For ANY bodom fan, Mirror of Madness is a must to complete your melodic death metal collection. Almost every track is awsome and you will not be dissapointed at all.