Back in the 90s, I remember clearly of a great friend of mine showing me a Norwegian Black Metal band EP. I heard it again and again, and on those times, I didn't see anything different from that music that the founding bands from Norwegian Black Metal scene did. Since then, I really lost the band's track, and heard nothing of them. And what a great surprise to me to see and hear this band now, almost 20 years after my earlier experience. Yes, this really is a very good experience, for ISVIND really evolved a lot since then. Their new album, "Gud", is a very good experience to mine ears, and of course will be good for you all.

ISVIND has a very traditional insight of what Black Metal is, but their musical path really is a bit different: some good, depressive and darkened melodies are used by them (it's obvious when you hear the guitars riffs with attention), some interventions from female voices here and there. And as the pioneers of Norwegian Black Metal scene are dead, or even moved to another Metal style (as DARKTHRONE in their actual more Metal/Punk orientated music), ISVIND can be a new spearhead into the scene. Their work is based on very good shrieked vocals (with some tune changes), guitar riffs sounding harsh and aggressive (but as I said above, with some melodies), and a strong and heavy work done by bass and drums, creating a good rhythmic basis. Besides it is nothing new at all, it is very good and is welcome in a time where Black Metal seems to be losing its roots.

The sound quality is that same one we could expect from a Black Metal band with very deep roots on the earlier scene: raw, but not without quality.

As a veteran, the quartet knows clearly want they want from their music. And songs as the charming and darkened "Flommen" (where we can hear and feel the introspection present on the guitar riffs, and with a fine work done by drums), the heavy and abrasive "Ordet" (another not so fast song, with great riffs and a fine work on vocals, using even some clean voices), the abrasive "Tronen" (with some introspective accords on the beginning, and then, an explosion of very good riffs, and a fine works done by bass and drums), and the catching "Giften" (another very good work done by the guitars).

"Gud" is a very good album, indeed, and comes to fill the gap left by DARKTHRONE, MAYHEM and others on Black Metal fans' hearts.<