A good piece of doom is always welcome here. Not that the RMR crew consists of a bunch of morose doomsayers, far from it. But there’s some allure in a juicy slab of tear-drenched misery.
And yet, true Doom Metal geekery has been pretty much absent on the ‘zine for 2023. Much to our chagrin, of course.1 But this might change with some pretty cool records still in the woodwork and one auspicious record that hit our review pipe with a pretty mighty bang some time ago.
And that record is Isole‘s Anesidora. Interestingly, two members of the band – Crister Olsson and Daniel Bryntse – are also leading the charge with their alma mater Ereb Altor. So, we got part of the same crew active in paganesque Black Metal and this here piece of pure doom. Now, their blackened metallic urges got a good yet still mixed review over here. Bears the question, will tears and tribulation suit this crew better? Swords and olde Gods or a bunch of tissues on a rampage. Aye, there’s the rub.
“Hear the songs of the whales!!” – Once Bryntse started howling the catchline of Anesidora‘s first track into our earphones, we were sold, hook, line, and sinker. The Songs of the Whales is state-of-the-art old-style Doom Metal on full display. And, it is the song that will capture the essence of the record pretty much. Isole‘s Style ov Doom often shows eerie similarities to Fvneral Fvkk‘s2 earlier tribulations. That, together with a load of elements catering to any of the Peaceville Three culprits with some Candlemass mixed in for good sport. That said, Isole didn’t really break new ground in an age-old genre. But instead, the band added another layer of excellence to an already well-endowed tentacle of that enormous metal kraken.
Anesidora – surprisingly – rarely hunts in territories the aforementioned Ereb Altor usually usurps. Perhaps apart from Daniel Bryntse‘s vocal performance that often sounds eerily similar to their blackened offerings. Mostly delivered in clear voice, the album’s vocal performance also sports some rare growls once the theme demands it (Monotonic Screams, for instance.) And for once, this here record warrants a closer look at the lyrics as well. Deep are the subjects at hand. Mostly about relationships that seriously went to the psychopathic South. For instance in Twisted Games: “You hid your dark side well, and your sharp claws gently caressed your prey.” Ouch! That sounds like something from a Stephen King novel. The record is full of those sometimes depressive, self-hating tones, full of sorrow of things not achieved or otherwise seriously bungled. Human nature on full display, like. And this really talked to my sadboi vibes.
All of the above rolls in on a tearful avalanche of measured yet thunderous riffing with a pensive, stellar solo thrown in for good measure here and there. A slow-motion and often harmonious avalanche of tear-drenched metal, courtesy of the Bryntse / Olsson team. And what tracks are the winners on Anesidora? Well, there ain’t no bad filler or strange noodling on this record. You guessed it, The Songs of the Whales pretty much cuts the deepest. And – indeed – this one offers a wealth of juicy nuggets that reveal themselves the more you play it. In Abundance follows right behind it with that strange mix of the aforementioned Fvneral Fvkk and My Dying Bride. Open Your Mind comes in as a close third with its stellar groove and juicy flow that made us return to that particular bitter well a few times too many.
And whilst Anesidora sometimes seems a tad too up close and personal, this record is a masterclass in all things Doom Metal. There is true misery and emotion in there, embedded in a soundscape that we couldn’t resist for some time. You’ll also find a fair amount of complexity and – thus – a few spins before passing judgment will be warranted. And if you let the record mature, it will reward you with many more tidbits as you move down its well-garnished tracklist.
Oh, and in case you wondered, we think that doom suits the members of Isole much better. In other words, more sorrowful melancholy and less blackened Viking raids. That should be the battle plan going forward.
Ed’s note: And – drumroll – the record’s made it onto our 2023 Top Ten list. Congrats! Oh, and if you’re looking for more excellent doom, try Tribunal. That might set you up just good.
Record Rating: 9/10 | Label: Hammerheart | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 10 March 2023