Traditional doom metal. Some believe it doesn’t need to get any better than that. Generally, I agree. Just listening to the classics from Candlemass, Trouble, Pentagram, Saint Vitus and Solitude Aeturnus and newer revived traditional sounds from Pale Divine and Oridruin, I’d have to say it’s one of the most consistently used styles out there. I don’t think there’s another metal style out there that hasn’t changed much over the years and at the same time staying so fresh. And with the veterans of the style, Candlemass and Trouble, releasing albums this year, the style will be here to stay. Sweden’s Isole (formerly known as Forlorn) is another band that keeps the traditional doom sound alive and fresh. And they do it well. As for the revival of the trad sound, Isole has probably created a masterpiece for the ages, and is easily going to be one of the top doom albums of the year.

With seven songs totaling a running time of just under an hour, this is definitely a doom metal album. But, it doesn’t bore you at any point. Each song is great in its own way. As for the overall approach, they take from the Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus stable, making an epic sound the heart of the album. The opening two songs, “The Watcher” and “Deciever,” sound as if they blend together and it’s amazing. “Age of Darkness” has a soft and pummeling intro to it. An oxymoron, I know, but listen and you’ll know what I mean. The riffs are as heavy as a ten tone Mack truck and drives along great. The song “Forevermore,” which could probably be considered a ballad of some sort, has an amazing melody that could almost be a slow sing-a-long at concerts. This is easily one of the highlights of the album. Strangely, the bass drum is a highly prominent part of the composition. That’s not often you see that. “Premonitions” has nicely done loud-soft-loud transitions, especially after the 4:00 mark. “Beyond the Black” is a fantastic ten-minute epic, another of the highlights. The closer, “Moonstone,” is actually the worst song on the album, but still a damn good one. The vocals even have some variation, as some harsh growls are used at some points.

When it comes down to it, if you’re a doom metal fan, this is an album for you. If you’re not a doom metal fan, this is an album for you. This album is a definition of epic traditional doom metal that everyone could enjoy just as much as doom fans. Just find it, you shan’t be disappointed.

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