NorthwardNorthward

Northward has emerged after waiting in the wings for ten longs years since Nightwish’s Floor Jansen and Jorn Viggo Lofstad of Pagan’s Mind found common musical ground at an all-star jam at Progpower USA Festival 2007.

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The hard rock tendency of these familiar figures has finally found its form in the project’s first and self-titled album Northward. Produced by Jacob Hansen, Northward explores a more stripped-back approach to composition than Jansen and Lofstad’s primary projects, stepping aside from keyboards and operatic layers to embrace the attitude of the hard rock sound.

Northward does exhibit a departure from the epic, operatic sound of Jansen’s familiar work with Nightwish, but her vocal work on the heavier songs is a powerful change that Jansen perhaps unsurprisingly nails. Tracks such as heavy rocker Let Me Out demonstrate that Jansen’s sound is not only huge, but angry too. Attitude drips from the tough bass lines of Big Boy, a more classic blues-rock number made unique by Jansen’s vocals. Lofstad also offers some windows into his diverse guitar chops, from the aggressive, bolder riffs on these tracks to the classic rock vibe on opener While Love Died.

Northward is what happens when a very powerful, dignified female vocal sound unites with impeccable compositions: it can make hard rock … classy, unique hard rock.

Northward really finds its own voice, however, on the more intricate tracks that offer inventive, unique melody hooks and catchy riffs. Drifting Islands is one of the best workings of the Northward formula, with a heavy groove set under a memorable vocal melody. The duet on this track featuring Jansen and her sister Irene Jansen is beautiful, and it is a song that resonates with very sincere passion. Storm In A Glass also has snappy melodic elements with a bit of an ‘80s vapour twist to its tail, and some sexy bass runs. Above all however the instantly grabbing leads of Get What You Give announce the strongest track on Northward. It is laden with attitude and smooth rocking groove, engagingly textured and curiously one of a kind.

Overall, Northward is very polished hard rock. Northward is what happens when a very powerful, dignified female vocal sound unites with impeccable compositions: it can make hard rock … classy, unique hard rock.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Get What You Give, Drifting Islands, Let Me Out.
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