I really love these bands that
counterbalance fast and slow. It's the sort of thing that feels like
an extension on Led Zeppelins idea of balancing dark and light. Such
is the case with Isdal, a band named after an unsolved death of a
woman in Norway and a sound that reflects that. This is an enormously
powerful two track demo with the first song coming searing out of the
gate with grind insanity and the second track laying back into some
doom metal magic. It reflects a band with a deep understanding of
both genres and a desire to fuse them.
The sheer mastery of both sides of the
coin is what fascinates me here. Seattle has a long history of doom
metal bands with strong punk and grunge aesthetics. It's a place
where grind bands flourish but aren't afraid to toss in elements of
slower music. Simultaneously they have a certain artsy aesthetic that
makes the focus track here, Weight In My Spine all the more special.
This demo represent barely six minutes of music but it suggests a
unique songwriting aesthetic that merges a variety of genres into a
surprisingly coherent musical sentiment. Watching this band gradually
get their shit together and get a more precise sound is going to be
interesting.
At once ADD but also punishing
nihilistic and realistic Isdal have caught lightning in a bottle
here. I feel like the first melodic line on Weight In My Spine in
particular has almost Yob like potential. There are a lot of unique
ideas here, the touches of hardcore serve as a thrilling monument to
where the band has come from and the forward thinking moments of
audacity push towards a sort of poetry that only the greatest doom
bands achieve. Isdal could be on the verge of something great, or
they could fade into obscurity. Isn't that what we love about this in
the first place?
Find them on Facebook!
Out now at https://isdal.bandcamp.com
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