Isole : " Anesidora"

I really liked this Swedish band's 2019 album "Dystopia". They seem to be heading into even more melodic territory. Deliberate and dark, but not doom in the way it is most easily defined. There is more drive, almost in the same sonic zip code as Hangman's Chair, the vocals have a more regal operatic feel, and the singer is clearly not as depressed. This majestic soaring feel, is what separates them into their own niche.  Cleanguitars haunt "Forgive Me". The vocals back off, and feel like there is more heart in them. It does not kick in the metallic dynamic in the expected manner, rather feels like a gradual progression which I respect. Death growl surface as the song gets heavier. 

There is an interesting call and response with the vocals on "Twisted Games". Things continue to grow darker as the album progresses and in so doing, it finds the band's sound conforming more to the expectations of doom. Growls are merely accents when the mournful mood builds. They are very convincing in describing the struggle with alcoholism on "In Abundance". It is an interesting perspective as Europeans are more advocates of moderation, rather than Americans who push them to a placed where forced abstinence is there only solution. Here the despair feels real, and that makes the song feel heavier. The growled vocals come into to drag you into their hopelessness. 

The vocals are not as graceful in wrapping the lyrics around the weeping guitars of " Open Your Mind".  "Vanity" closes the album with something more in line with the funeral march of traditional European doom. By this the shade that owes nothing to Sabbath, and has more elegant atmosphere than sludge. I will give this album a 9, it's an easy listen for me as it caters to the brand of 90s doom, I am a big fan of. I will see how this grows on me so far, it's not a summer album unless it's for rainy afternoons and late nights.