Enslaved
Isa

THE REVIEW

Since they formed in the early nineties, Enslaved have always distinguished themselves for a remarkable attitude towards experimentation and expansion towards new musical horizons.

Works like "Frost," "Eld," or "Monumension" are true milestones of extreme Norwegian music, and particularly the first one I mentioned has literally "created" a new subgenre: the now famous viking-metal (in truth, Bathory were the initiators, but many have forgotten..). The latest work by the northerners from Bergen is titled "Isa" and once again we are faced with a stylistic upheaval.. the result? A true "monster" in musical terms! Perfect production, further improved technical skills, first-rate creativity and compositional maturity.

The first novelty is undoubtedly the abandonment of black metal outbursts that dominated "Frost" (complain, purists…) in favor of a more considered attack where the rhythmic section slows down considerably, while remaining tight and very technical. To tell the truth, Enslaved have flirted with melodic sounds for about a decade, but this undoubtedly represents the final result of their sound research.
Grutle and company span from prog-rock with King Crimson influences, to almost Teutonic thrash-style riffing finishing with references to the sonic "madness" (in a positive sense) of the latest Opeth. All of this while maintaining the intact epic-Viking approach that has made them famous and that spills over uncontrollably into the magnificent "Return to Yggdrasil" where the atmospheres take us to the ancient and glorious Norwegian past.

An evocative intensity worthy of comparison with the "Hammerheart" of the immortal Bathory. Another highly expressive track is the opener "Lunar force," which alternates melancholic riffs with tighter ones, abrasive vocals that culminate in madness thanks to the illustrious guest of the moment: ex-Immortal Abbath! Worth mentioning for their power-melody combination are also "Ascension" and "Violet Dawning" with truly interesting choruses, enriched by the clean vocals of talented keyboardist Herrbrand Larsen. The band's abilities continue to amaze in "Bounded by Allegiance," where the progressive aspect becomes overwhelming, particularly in the very technical and imaginative riffs of the inspired Arve and Ivar.
The harmonies loaded with melancholy and intimacy explode in the final episode, that "Neogenesis" which is all a succession of sharp guitars, dreamy keyboards, vocals from soft to venomous growling, and solos full of light (Pink Floyd came to mind!): truly a great finale for this album.

What to say.. for me "Isa" is the total masterpiece of the Vikings, the achieved maturity and balance at a technical-compositional level. A final applause also to the singles, especially the lead guitar of Arve Isdal, a truly gifted musician who does not waste a note in the solos. A work to buy with your eyes closed, for those who expect strong emotions from music and not the usual pointless display of power for its own sake.