It’s not uncommon for bands to change their entire sound after the departure of a heavy co-vocalist, and remain successful; just look at the likes of Deaf Havana and We Are the Ocean. Now, Swedish quartet Normandie are following in the same steps. With the departure of their co-vocalist, current frontman Philip Strand is taking the chance to showcase his captivating and shining vocals on their upcoming album ‘Inguz’.
Opening track ‘Fight’ is an extraordinary start. Opening with stomps, claps, and war cries of “Fight, like the rest of us!” it’s a track that comes out of the void at full throttle. ‘Believe’ sees the group employ soaring melodies to create arena-sized tracks, whilst ‘The Deep Cold’ is vibrant. Bold and dynamic riffs are layered on top of a killer bassline during ‘Calling’.
Tracks like ‘Starting New’ are a startling appearance. Throughout the course of the album, there have been hints of Bring Me the Horizon and 30 Seconds to Mars in terms of how big their production is, but this track showcases Philip’s vocals incredibly. Just one listen to this track, and then there are comparisons to the likes of Mallory Knox and Young Guns – his vocals are huge, melodic, and deliver an unforgettable performance.
Normandie know how to write, not just fast and aggressive tracks, but tracks that are personable and reflect feelings that most people will have experienced during their lifetime. Emotional lyrics are rife during ‘Collide’; lines such as “So give me life, give me fire/’Cause I’m drowning in the ocean of you and I” are delivered with raw power, on top of fast, heavy riffs, whilst the ending lyric of “Just want to feel like I’m something” is simply bruising.
They close with ‘Epilogue’, a soaring end to an album that is simply staggering. ‘Inguz’ is an album for those who ate up Bring Me the Horizon’s latest release, as it’s chock full of electronic production and synths, complete with a powerful backdrop for the band to deliver their mighty vocals and frenzied, heavy riffs. It’s an album that reflects the Viking rune that it’s named after; they’ve separated themselves from their old sound in order to create a space where the order of transformation and growth into higher states of being can occur. In other words, it’s a stunning album.
JESS TAGLIANI