Almost six years ago I wrote a review about Istapp’s “The Insidious Star,” an album that I called summoned by the dark forces that control this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet. While listening to this new album “Sól Tér Sortna” (The sun turns dark) I had some kind of déjà vu, something rang a bell in my mind – I do not have wwhat some people call memory, I have just a pale remembrance – and I went to look into the pages files. There I found the forgotten, but not gone album. As a matter of fact, my memory is not perfect as you all know. At least I got some ideas to start this review and break the ice Istapp brought us…
The Istapp I met from “The Insidious Star,” is not that different from the one I am listening with “Sól Tér Sortna.” I guess the latter is a little more melodic with the guitars that built layers and layers of melodic textures. Fom what I heard, the songs are more complex with more the aforementioned layers of instrumentals textures. The guitars’ notes are perfect clear and the way guitar duo Aurgelmir and Tizheruk play the songs is very satisfying. It is possible to hear all the notes they hit. Soon, the fan will realize it is no secret that Istapp kept all the iconography and features from the previous album, except for vocals which from the beginning delivers a very melodic tune with album warmer “Under Jökelisen” – Hmm, not the right word for Istapp. Let’s say colder instead. Well, I have to say vocals were a game changer here. Besides vocals, there are some folk elements added here with “Ragnarök” in order to give the grand feeling the tittle requires. Here the band mixes Gjallar’s gutural vocals with clean ones and a female’s turning the song into a great duel of voices. Gjallar’s natural gutural vocals get more determined here. It feels like he means what he sings. I feel that the addition of the folk elements with the variety of vocals made Istapp’s music grand, more complex and much more related with their modern Black Metal peers.
Besides all the aforementioned, “Sól Tér Sortna” makes another change in the band’s music by using only one language, with “The Insidious Star,” there were three. The language, even though many might not perceive it, changes the way the music is sang. It is with “Istronens Furste” that the fan will realize the addition of more classical muisic elements besides the exciting guitar riffing, which, by the way, is one of the band’s signature. Pay attention the guitar riffing of “Kallbrand” as well.
My opinion is that all the changes made Istapp’s music grander and more complex leaving untouched the band’s guitar signature, which is amazing. So, it is possible to say “Sól Tér Sortna” is a step ahead when compared to “The Insidious Star.” What did not change here was the band’s obssesion for the winter and the cold and their will to kill the Sun.
Istapp “Sól Tér Sortna” will be released on March 07th via Trollzorn Records.
Track Listing:
01. Under Jökelisen
02. Nifelheim
03. Grýla
04. Storm Av Is
05. Frostdraken
06. Sól Tér Sortna
07. Ragnarök
08. Istronens Furste
09. Kallbrand
10. Vinterkrig
Watch “Under Jökelisen” official music video here:
Source: metaladdicts.com
