ISLE OF WISDOM

Improving on the recklessly flawless "Conundrum" from 2020 would have been a perilous venture, but perhaps HALLAS could have at least tried, or at least attempted a dramatic repositioning. Instead, "Isle of Wisdom" plays like a bashful attempt to do both and predictably succeeds at neither. To be clear, the HALLAS trademarks remain: hard rock with a melodic orientation and an otherworldly optimism, which can be enjoyed to a degree on their own merits. But comparisons to "Conundrum's "in the zone" mini suites fall short in both the immediate and cumulative sense, and the bolstered attack with more emphasis on guitars and soloing tend to dim the indirect luminosity of a few short years ago.

The apex is attained with the funky "Earl's Theme" which captivates to the very climax, and its successor "The Inner Chamber", which most closely approaches previous triumphs structurally, musically and vocally. For the rest, it's all good, and would be lauded for its potential if it were a first release. The disappointment didn't stop me from obtaining a ticket to see them for their upcoming local appearance though feeling a bit too wise (read old) and wanting to show myself and the other person who might notice me that I can still attend a concert in a club and stay awake might be the more lucid explanation.