heavy-metal-darkness: Nornes | Thou Hast Done Nothing

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Nornes | Thou Hast Done Nothing | Sleeping Church Records

Release Date: November 28^th, 2025

Format: Digital/CD/Vinyl

Genre: Doom Metal

Country: France

Nornes began in 2017 in Valenciennes and have been shaping a sound rooted in traditional doom, funeral doom and death metal. Their approach is slow, heavy and soaked in sorrow, driven by deep growls and strained vocals that echo over long, crushing passages. After years of shorter releases, they now present their first full album, “Thou Hast Done Nothing”, through Sleeping Church Records.

The album moves with a steady pull, like a long walk through a grey landscape. Nornes keeps the focus on thick riffing and voice, always pushing forward without drifting away from the central mood they create. The music has a strong emotional weight, not through dramatic tricks, but through patience and an almost stubborn commitment to bleakness. The dual vocals give the material a raw edge, like two different shades of despair answering each other from across the room.

The band’s approach suits the length of these songs. Instead of trying to rush toward big payoffs, they let the heaviness sit and sink in. There is a steady pressure in the way the riffs move, with every section given time to settle. The production helps the album stay grounded. The guitars feel rough, the drums strike plainly, and the vocals arrive like cracked stone. It matches the emotional intent and makes the record sound honest.

“Thou Hast Done Nothing” stands as a strong opening chapter for Nornes. It shows a band committed to sorrow and heaviness without drifting into empty darkness for its own sake. Fans of Candlemass, Bell Witch or YOB will likely connect with the slow pull and emotional depth here. Nornes sound ready to step further into the scene, but with pure doom shaped by grief and stubborn resolve.

Score: 7.5