Artist: Enslaved
Label: Candlelight Records
Release Date: 2/8/05
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Title: Isa Artist: Enslaved Label: Candlelight Records Release Date: 2/8/05 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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4 | ||
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4 | ||
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3 | ||
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Abyss's Review:
When looking at their career as a whole, there are few bands that I put on the same level as Enslaved. Never media darlings, especially on this side of the pond, they have spent their career in the shadows of more recognized acts like Emperor and Opeth. I find this a pity because, as much as I like those other acts, Enslaved are simply a higher form of art in my opinion.Enslaved have come out with an entire catalogue that is ambitious in its art as well as palatable in its presentation. They have remained on the periphery of the black/viking/progressive metal scene they have spawned, creating a body of work that is both prolific and awe-inspiring, but also raw and at times ugly. And while this band might not always be the most easily accessible thing out there, they are always interesting.
"One word review: Prolific." Isa keeps the band's streak of successful albums intact, even if it did take a good amount of time for it to grow on me. Production on the album seems somewhat scattered, sounding thin and raw in some places, and epic in others, and I wonder if this is deliberate. Regardless of whether it is or not, the result is quite compelling. This album is, thankfully, a lot more focused than Below The Lights, which I felt drifted too far and too often to compete with the majesty of their best album, Mardraum: Beyond The Within. Isa doesn't blow me away like that album did, but it does remain a testament to how ahead of the curve this band is. Simply put, one can be slightly disappointed with an Enslaved album and it will still be more worthwhile than so much other stuff out there.
And while portions of this album linger a bit too long for me, it is for the most part brilliant. Fans of this band will be amply rewarded by songs such as the title track, "Violet Dawning," "Neogenesis" and the immaculate "Return of Yggdrasill." This is not my favorite Enslaved album, hell it probably isn't in my top four, but it is a beautiful piece of work, nevertheless. One word review: Prolific.
Death's Review:
Enslaved return with another platter of elite, dark and artistic metal, Isa. True to recent form, Enslaved deliver a potent brew filled with equal parts black-and-roll a la recent Satyricon, the catchiness of Cradle of Filth, the experimentation of Voivod and the jammy trippiness of Meddle -era Pink Floyd. Pianos and blackened vocals meld with buzzsaw guitars and rock and roll drumbeats. Deep, emotional feelings emerge from the cold and brutal mix, and Enslave clearly are performing music that is both important, credible, unique and filled with integrity. While this is not 100% to my own personal taste, the quality of the record is undeniable. If you liked Below the Lights, you will want to continue on this journey. In many ways, this is a five skull record, but because this hasn't really resonated with me completely on a level that I expect from my personal favorites, I will only give it four. It's a bit more out there than I would like, and a bit less catchy and riffy than I usually go for. But for what this album is, this is high-level material, and clearly, it deserves a lot of attention.
"The quality of the record is undeniable."
Hel's Review:
It may be that I'm just not in the mood for this album, but Enslaved's Isa is not making me go "wow." Or it may be that I'm just not on the Enslaved bandwagon. Abyss has always held this band in high regard, but I don't have the history with them that he does, and my experiences with them have been less rewarding. I always walk away feeling that their albums are disjointed and inconsistent. After spending much time with Isa, I find myself having the same conversation about it in my head as I so often seem to. To put it simply, I feel as though the record rambles.
"Good, not great." The production suffers a similar affliction. This is one of those recordings that must be played at a loud volume for the mix to sound full, and having been very ill for a week now, I really haven't been looking to blare my stereo. My pounding head does not appreciate this production quirk. Then there's the songwriting. Again, there are so many disparate styles being brought into play at the same time, there is really no particular connecting thread between them. The only constant on the album is the musicianship, which is up to the task when the pendulum swings toward the more demanding styles incorporated into this morass.
Let's face it. While I can state with absolute conviction that there is a quantity of interesting music to be found on this disc, there are not enough moments that I find compelling for me to consider this to be anything but merely average. Good, not great. And it really is a shame, since there is just enough brilliance on this album to evoke a wistful, what-could-have-been, daydream of an alternate reality in which this record and all the others I have been disappointed in fulfilled their potential and masterpieces were produced. But then one of the parts I find distasteful comes in, and my reverie is forcibly dispelled. Ah well. I know there are people who will be able to immerse themselves in the odd trip that is Enslaved and will find this effort intensely pleasurable. If you are one of them, just remember to keep the volume cranked when you hear it for optimal effect.
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