n0trixx: A Catalogue of Madness and Melancholia
Releasing a debut album is an ambitious effort; debuting with a concept album is even more brazen. On ‘A Catalogue of Madness and Melancholia’, Russian expat n0trixx translates a variety of mental illnesses into sonic forms that scatter, fracture, twist and lurch between genres. The result is a haunting, often jarring and always exciting record that is sure to please fans of industrial, nu metal, EDM and witch house (among plenty of others)!
As she raps, sings and screams through nine tales of despair and disorder, n0trixx is joined by several guest musicians from bands like The Wrong Kid Died, Sacrificial Slabs and even Linkin Park. The additional guitars and keys provided by the guests give the songs an even sharper emotional edge, especially on ‘harmless’. Here, the ethereal pad synths give way to ear-crushing, flanged-out chords from Sarunas Brazionis (Sacrificial Slabs), as the lyrics detail the artist’s personal struggle with borderline personality disorder.
Nearly all of the songs on the album are inspired by her own lived experience and that of her loved ones. And her skillful vocals and production truly show the effects that mental health struggles can have not just on those afflicted, but on the ones around them as well. n0trixx has stated that one of her intentions when creating this album was to illustrate the importance of proper mental and emotional wellbeing – and most listeners will emerge from the experience having heard some part of themselves reflected in the music.
Even through all the angst and sorrow contained within, there is a pervasive sense of hope and catharsis, as if the songs were created not out of desire but of necessity; as if every note of this album had lain dormant in the artist’s psyche, simply waiting for the opportune moment to be recorded. This is much more than just a work of art – it is a life expertly distilled into 11 tracks and borne bare for the whole world to live.
Whatever your personal experience with mental health may be, there is almost certainly something here that will resonate with you as it did with me. Even if the majority of the songs don’t speak to you on a personal level, the closing track ‘you are loved’ offers a moment of peace and assurance to send you on your way with a reminder that, despite what your inner voice may say, you are indeed loved and valuable.
‘A Catalogue of Madness and Melancholia’ is one of the most impressive debuts I’ve heard in recent memory and I am already eagerly awaiting n0trixx’s next moves. With her genre-apathetic sound, she is equally likely to be playing stages at Download Festival or Creamfields in the near future, so go support her before she goes big!