Nordstahl – Mjölnir

Nordstahl’s “Mjölnir” begins with harsh, thrash-inspired guitars that before turning into a banging industrial metal song. The change is smooth, as the music combines cutting-edge riffs with robotic beats and a heavy groovy backbone, making it both brutal and surprisingly danceable. The vocals, sung in German, are rough and powerful, similar as Rammstein’s military tones, while the melodic roots and occasional folk-metal elements recall In Extremo. The voice has a primordial effect to it, as if the lyrics are being formed in the heat of battle, which is appropriate for a track titled after Thor’s mythological Hammer. What truly characterizes “Mjölnir” is the combination of anger and rhythm. The groove in the guitars and the industrial rhythm of the percussion push the song into dancefloor space, making it ideal for metal fans looking for music that moves the mind as well as the body.