Somewhere around the middle to latter part of the second wave of Black Metal, a new crop of bands emerged to expand the genre.  Bands experimented with all sorts of keyboards ala ARCTURUS, unique song arrangements and experiments such as SOLEFALD, and hugely layered melodies like TARTAROS and LIMBONIC ART.  ISKALD is a band owing much to those who laid the groundwork before them, yet reticent to push the boundaries laid before them.  The band's name in English is translated to "ice cold," and the album's name translates to "the harvest".  ISKALD formed in Norway in 2005 and "Innhosting" is their fifth full-length release.

The album opens with "The Atrocious Horror," a song that alternates between carefully sculpted, purposely dissonant Black Metal fare and a methodical groove.  The groove moves the song forward allowing one deeper immersion.  The fourth track, titled "Even Dawn Drew Twilight," is the end result of laying down coinciding riffs that form a gigantic sound despite differing tempos and chords.  The short acoustic interlude offers an appropriate middle marker in the song.  One cannot help but notice the influence of MAYHEM's "Grand Declaration of War".

The album unfortunately slows down after a while.  The seventh track, "From Traitor to Beast," is another offering of melodic Black Metal.  It is a stunning display of forethought and skill as well as the longest running track on the album at 7:27.  The following track, "Lysene so Forsvant," begins with the collision of bass, piano and guitar.  The multiple instruments successfully create an air of high melody. ISKALD illustrates their vision through modern hi fidelity production.  Forsaking purist recording tactics, the band favor a huge sound.  The guitar tone has massive girth, and the bass is thankfully audible.  The drums are tight as well as always moving the song forward.

Despite a forward-thinking approach, the album does not contain a specific lightning rod to characterize itself as a stand out track.  Once one is comfortable with the sound, the band keeps things tidy under that umbrella.  While this is light years beyond some, if not many in the genre, unfortunately, the album lacks any tracks that truly stand out from the rest.