North Star Union has released “Echoes of decay”, a slice of melodic heavy metal that feels less like a standard studio tracking and more like something dug out of the permafrost. There is a curious quality to Icelandic composer Myrmann’s work here; because he handles all the instrumentation and composition himself at Midgard Studio, the track possesses a singular, frighteningly cohesive nervous system. It moves as one giant, galloping beast.
You know that specific sensation when you wake up too early in winter, and the air is so cold it tastes distinct? Metallic, sharp, almost indifferent to your presence? That is the texture of the rhythm section here.
Myrmann lays down a foundation of distorted strumming and rapid-fire percussion that races forward not unlike a heart palpitation brought on by too much caffeine and existential dread while the lead melodies soar high above in intricate loops. It creates a fascinating verticality, grounding you in the mud while stretching for the peaks. Then you have Rob Lundgren on guest vocals, acting as the conduit for this dark, occult-laced narrative. He sounds like a town crier warning of a storm that happened three centuries ago, yet is somehow returning tomorrow.
The song addresses the resilience of life and the heavy hang of heritage. It’s grandiose, certainly. But it also reminded me strangely of watching dust motes dance in a shaft of light in an abandoned house chaotic, yet following unseen currents of history. It evokes the glorification of times past without feeling stagnant. The low-end rumble anchors the spiritual high notes, keeping the mysticism tethered to the dirt.
This piece, part of the debut album “Where the last light remains”, forces you to look backward while charging forward. Can a memory carry enough weight to crush you, or is that pressure exactly what builds the ground we stand on?
