ISA

I first discovered Enslaved a few years ago, I had only been able to acquire their album Monumension, which slowly grew on me, but at which time I had read many good things of Isa but never found an opportunity to actually listen to the whole thing. Until one day I found it in a record store in LA. Little had I known how much I had missed from all Enslaved truly had to offer with this album.

With this album, Enslaved broke many boundaries within the progressive and black metal scenes. Here, they combined sounds of post-metal, black metal, eclectic and heavy progressive rock, notably their influences such as Rush, King Crimson and Pink Floyd. All of those influences can be identified in the album. For example, their riffs bring heavier KC songs to mind like 21stCSM, their softer sections and textures are quite reminiscent of Pink Floyd. As well, Rush-like structures can be heard. While many Progressive Black Metal bands such as Wolves in the Throne Room take core black metal and add atmospheres and only generate emotions, Enslaved creates pictures with their music, "sound-scapes" as they are called. Though Enslaved still uses atmosphere with many songs without musical imagery. Every song on this album is perfect in its own way, though the title track, for its fantastic riffs, remains one of my favorites of Enslaved and of most progressive bands around.

I would recommend this album for everyone to give ti a listen, though, (as it is with all music) it may or may not be of your taste. One of the biggest turn offs this band has had among my prog-friends, is the vocals. I personally believe that they take time for some to adapt to hearing. Nevertheless, whether you shy away from gutteral vocals or not, I would recommend this to everyone to listen at least twice.