Cheap Isa (Music) (Enslaved) Price

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Customer Reviews of Isa

Shoegazer metal?
If Swervedriver made black metal, it might sound like this. Whether or not British shoegazers influenced Enslaved, the note choices, harmonies, and sonic density here recall "Mezcal Head." While standard black metal elements are present, such as double bass drums, keyboards, and the occasional shrieking vocal, Enslaved has carved out its own unique, abstract sound. Curiously, the album is never really heavy, fast, or evil. Riffs chug along with the aforementioned shoegazer vibe, punctuated by well-placed clean vocals. The twists and turns that do occur are organic and natural, suggesting a `70's prog-rock influence; in terms of prog to rock ratio, Voivod comes to mind. This is not the most immediate listen, but repeated spins reveal a rich, masterful complexity.

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Amazing, they've done it again
Enslaved have created yet another unique and powerful record filled with odd time signatures, chords and unexpected spine chilling melodic twists. Clean vocals are mixed very effectively with black metal growls. The guitars and drums occasionally remind me of this band's black metal past but I wouldn't call this black metal at all. Rather this is some sort of progressive hybrid that has roots in black metal and Norwegian folk but goes far beyond the typical stylings of either genre. Since Maudraum, Enslaved have gotten better or at the very least moved forward with every album. Unlike a band like Darkthrone who've tried to maintain their allegience to the rules of "true" black metal, Enslaved are not content to make the same album over and over again or remain within prescribed musical confines. Not to cut on Darkthrone, they do what they do very well, but Enslaved are much more adventurous. <
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>Isa wasn't as immediately enjoyable or accessible as Maudraum or Below The Lights, rather it took a little time for me to get my head around it. But once I gave it the requisite time for it to sink in, damn. Isa is some of the most unique metal out there these days, a stand out release.

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Yep Yep Yep
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>Amazing, as expected. This thing needs more reviews! I was sort of hoping for this progressive procession coming from "Below the Lights", which is also an amazing progressive-black metal masterpiece. "Isa" being slightly different from "Below..." has still taken a step forward in a progressive sense. It's hard to imagine that this bleak repetitive genre (black metal-which is what it's known & loved for) can be hypnotic and droning, yet this album still provide the listener with a sense of "moving forward". I don't know of any other band off the top of my head who can pull that off. Enslaved defintely have this style signatured, and props to them for that! <
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>Other notes: Abbath and Nocturno Culto appear on this album to lay down some raunchy vocals! Sounds great. Keyboards weave in and out of the foreground during most of the songs, bringing you in and out of vision (what you're concentrating on in the song). One second you're focusing on the guitars, then the astral atmosphere carries you away from it, then back in. Extremely well recorded and produced. Bleak AND Progressive...chew on that for a while. Then go buy this album.