Right, let us start by giving the visitors of Scandinavian Metal an introduction to Isole. When and why did the band start and what is your intention with the band?

Well for those who didn’t know, Isole is formerly known as underground doom band Forlorn, it all started in 1990 when two friends in Gävle (they listened too much to Candlemass and Bathory) decided that a doom band wasn’t such a bad idea, it’s quite easy to play slow we thought, we had just recently begun to torture some instruments. We found a drummer and we begin to play some Candlemass tunes and soon we crafted our first doom hymn! The years went on and on, several recordings (the only important one is the “waves of sorrow” demo tape which got good response back in 1994 and I’ve heard a lot of doomsters still think it is good. And as the years passed on also the line-up changed a lot of times but the founder, me (Crister) and Daniel has always been around.

Isole started out as Forlorn in 1990. You changed name to Isole in 2003 and in early 2005 you finally released the debut album "Forevermore". How will you explain the fact that it took you 15 years to release a proper full length? Were all the line-up changes a very disturbing factor maybe?

Yeah, that’s correct, we changed our name because a Norwegian black metal band showed up and they released 3 CD’s I think, and we didn’t wish to be mixed up with them so we decided to give birth to Isole. Why it took 15 years to release an album…. Ask the doom metal audience… hahhaha… honestly it’s mostly because we had so much musical projects and stuff on the side so the wheels of Forlorn turned slowly, and we had some problem with the line-up, members living elsewhere or quitting the band. But Daniel and myself has always had contact during the years of silence, the sleeping beauty is now up and breathing.

Why doom metal?

As I said earlier we listened a lot to Candlemass and Bathory. We have always enjoyed slow and heavy music. As for myself I really love the atmosphere and the beauty of the sad and melancholy tunes which exist in doom metal. We simply love this kind of music!

I’m a big doom metal fan myself and I can clearly hear My Dying Bride and While Heaven Wept influences in your music. Which other bands have inspired you during the years? How will you describe your music to someone clueless to Isole?

Hmmm… which bands…? I would say that Candlemass was our main influence in the beginning. Daniel listens a lot to death metal and brings some of that into the world of Isole. I think we get our influence from everything, all of us like all kinds of music. And we all pull Isole in different directions but I consider that’s a good thing. For myself I can say that my main influences come from 3rd and The Mortal, Anathema and Landberk. I think doom metal is very varied. It contains so much and the most important thing is the feelings you put into it.

Ok, Isole's debut album "Forevermore" has now been out for a month or so through "I Hate Records". My doom metal expert loved the album a lot; how has the album been received elsewhere?

I must say that the responses have been overwhelming so far, I couldn’t believe my eyes when the reviews popped up, you can read several reviews on our website. But in the end it all depends on the doom people in general. Somebody must buy the music you know.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a shame that the only way to get hold of this album is to order it online. This album should be available in music shops all over the world. I know many doesn't like the idea of buying stuff from the net; will you eventually get better distribution deals for this album? Luckily “I Hate Records” accepted PayPal; otherwise I wouldn't have been able to buy it yet.

I couldn’t agree more with you, but I know that you can buy the record in some stores here in Sweden. It’s up to our label and I really hope we can reach out to everyone. I really don’t know what our label will do to get better distribution. Ordering from the internet gets more common every day but to reach out to the music stores is very important.

How do you look upon the "Forevermore" material today? I mean, much of the material has been in the making for years - isn't that true? Age of Darkness is from around 1993 or so. Are you very happy with the outcome?

It’s true that the songs on “Forevermore” is quite old, in fact none of the songs is brand new. On the other hand they have grown in the rehearsal room for years, most of them have been edited through the years and I think all songs is very good, otherwise we wouldn’t have recorded them, we have tons of material and we simply pick the best Forlorn material to Isole.

We are satisfied with the material and everything, the only thing is that we wish that we had more time in the studio to get a little more powerful sound.

Will you go on a tour to promote "Forevermore"?

We are aiming to go on tour this autumn, we are discussing this with our label at the moment, and we are having a short break when it comes to gigs during the summer due to family matters. We will rehearse though.

How was the song writing process for "Forevermore"? Do Isole have a main songwriter? Furthermore, what lyrical themes do your songs touch? Any special topics you care extra for?

Well the song writing process has been going on for so many years for this album. And yeah, we have a main songwriter in Daniel, he writes about 80 % of the Isole songs. The usual is that he composes an entire song at home, and then we listened to it and decides if it is good enough, then the song is rehearsed in the rehearsal room and then the song develops in the rehearsal room when every band member puts his personal touch to it.

The lyrics are not our strongest part in my opinion, common topics in Isole is about love (lost love in particular) loneliness and life/death.

Ok, have you started to pen new material already? Hopefully it won't take you another 15 years to come out with new material ;)

Hahahaha… you’ll never know. Maybe we can release two or three albums before we die! Honestly, if everything goes as plan and all you doomsters buy our debut we will release a second album. We are aiming to enter a studio at the end of this year. As I said earlier we have tons of material since the Forlorn days and I think some of those songs deserves to see the light of day. And we have four or five freshly penned compositions as well and the rehearsing has already begun, but the songs must develop and only the material that we are really satisfied with will be released.

How do you look upon the doom metal scene in Scandinavia today? Any bands which have caught your interest lately?

The doom metal scene of today is so musically wide, so many sub genres. I can mention two really good Scandinavian doom bands except Candlemass which of course is Gods. Those two are World Below from Sweden and Reverend Bizarre from Finland.

Do you consider today’s Isole line-up to be stable? You intend to keep the band going for many years to come?

I can only speak for myself, and I believe in this band and I will never give up this band. And I really hope the others feel the same way. I think this line-up will last a long time but you can never be certain, Jonas has just joined Isole but Henka, Daniel and me has been in the band for a long time now.

Is anyone in Isole currently in other bands/projects?

Jonas, Daniel and Henka also play in brutal death metal band Withered Beauty. Daniel and myself has two side projects which doesn’t occupy so much time, we are both members of Februari 93 and Ereb Altor. Henka is involved in a few projects as well, Morannon and Outremer. But I think it’s only Isole and Withered Beauty that matters in the end. We have always been involved in a lot of projects to satisfy our different needs in music.

Now it's due for the question I ask every band I interview. Are you able to list the best 5 releases ever by Scandinavian metal bands only?

Of course I can do a list!

3rd And The Mortal - Tears Laid In Earth
Bathory - Twilight Of The Gods
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Candlemass - Nightfall
Abstrakt Algebra - S/T

Remember that’s my (Crister) choices, not Isole’s

Which is the best doom metal band ever and why?

Candlemass is the best doom metal band ever, because they are such good musicians and Leif is such an awesome songwriter. And I think they actually made this genre. I know there were earlier bands which are considered doom metal but nevertheless. It’s a pity though that they put the standard so high from the beginning ;) No one can compete with this monster.

Ok, thanks for doing this interview with me. Forevermore is a damn great album and I wish you all the best in the future. The last words are yours!

The last words in this interview are mine, well… Hail to my dear friend Daniel which made this band possible!!!!!!!

And watch out for Isole, just listen to it, I don’t think any of you doomsters out there will be disappointed and the world needs more epic doom.

Cheers to you all (especially all of you that were at DSR III)

[This interview was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]