The Northern Light is an alternative rock band from Woodinville, WA, consisting of members David Pollon (guitar, vocals), Kip Rondorf (drums) and Carl Larsson (bass, synths). The band started as a singer/songwriter project for Pollon in 2016, having changed into its full-band form by 2019, and the band’s songs explore themes of despair and redemption.

The Northern Light is their new album and was released on 28/06/2023.

With seven tracks in total, the album lasts just under half an hour and is a real treat for the listener.

Hard where to categorise the album other than “rock” these guys take influence from many genres to create a sound that is uniquely theirs.

With nostalgic nods back to 90’s alternative rock, this is an album that showcases the talents and musicianship of these three guys. Each member stands out as a talent on their own but together they really are a force to be reckoned with.

With heavy riffs coming from the guitars and combining this with acoustic Spanish guitars at times, there really is a lot of diversity in what these guys are doing. Slight distortion is sued to create a hint of a grunge feel, but this doesn’t take away from the top-notch production on this album.

The songs are clear and concise, taking the listener through a range of emotions, not only through the emotive lyrics provided by Pollon, but also through the music which really pulls at the heart strings at times.

Musically, The Northern Light have a very big sound. The heavy riffs combined with pounding drums and meaty basslines deliver an infectious energy and really drive the songs forward. The vocals are gritty, although there is a quirkiness to them, and powerful and totally reminiscent of the singers of 90’s alternative rock bands, which is by no means a bad thing.

There is a great mix of tracks on this album, some rockier than others while some are more melodic and slower paced, offering more introspective moments on the album. This mix keeps the listener engaged with the tracks at all times and, with the meaningful lyrics, there is a lot for the listener to think about too.

This is a great album, and I really can not wait to hear more from this great band. Check them out!

Track Listing:

1) Waiting For The Flood

2) As Stars Burn

3) Sunshine In A Bottle

4) 4 Strings

5) Borrowed Time

6) Tribes (remix)

7) The Bitter Season

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum