Album
Type:
Album
Date
Released:
01st
March 2015
Label:
Nordvis
Produktion
Sistere
– Track Listing
1.Indefinite
Instinct
2.Duality
3.Finite Horizon
4.Sistere
Bio
Hailing from
Tilburg, The Netherlands, IZAH takes elements of sludge, noise,
hardcore and post-rock and blends these into a dark and gloomy mix of
heavy riffs, downhearted melodics and densely layered sound dynamics.
After having released two EP’s, IZAH played numerous shows with the
likes of Baroness, Mono, Cult of Luna, Celeste, Wolves in the Throne
Room and The Ocean.
2015 sees the
release of IZAH’s debut album Sistere for which the band joined
forces with producer Jochem Jacobs (ex-Textures). Sistere, to be
released through Nordvis Produktion, has become a heartfelt 72 minute
long musical narration through darkness and light, hope and despair.
In four heavy atmospheric compositions IZAH takes the listener from
serene post-rock passages to crushing hardcore grooves, from dark
ambient to free form noise and from hypnotising black metal to
massive walls of sludge.
Members
Tijs van Wegberg -
drums
Frans Terhorst -
bass
Twan Bastiaansen -
guitar
Roel van Oosterhout
- guitar
Michel de Jong -
synth / guitar
Sierk Entius -
vocals / synth
Review:
Hailing
from Tilburg, the home of the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands,
it is no surprise that Izah deliver a heathy dose of heaviness on
their mammoth debut “Sistere”.
Following
a brief introductory swelling drone, opener “Indefinite Instinct”
begins proper as the band strike into an ominous groove of spacious
ringing chords and guttural vocals, reminiscent of fellow countrymen
Ortega, signalling dark times ahead. It is not too long before this
prophecy is fulfilled and a crushing Isis-style attack descends to
satisfying effect. The band then continue to travel on a winding
journey through soaring heaviness for the rest of the track’s 14
minute duration.
Instead
of retreading the ground covered by “Indefinite Instinct”,
“Duality” takes things in a more metallic, less melodic
direction. Kicking off with some up-tempo riffing similar to German
post metallers The Ocean, an atmosphere of building unease is then
established during a drumless mid-section where samples of news
reports of the Unabomber play over ominous chugging. This gives way
to the slowest, most crushing riff on the album that recalls
underrated Relapse bruisers, Minsk.
It
is often the case with bands that favour lengthy songs based on build
and release dynamics that albums can be hard slogs through 6 or 7
slight variations of the same peaks and troughs to wearying effect.
Although “Sistere” is a massive record, getting through a mere
four tracks during the course of its 70 minute duration, it’s to
Izah’s credit that they manage to keep things interesting
throughout.
Third
track “Finite Horizon” shakes things up yet again. An
ever-changing introductory section encompasses heavy grooves, big
stoner riffs, shifting tempos, melodic calm and piercing discordance
before building to an anthemic, reverb-laden melodic climax with
clean vocals.
While
most bands would be happy to call it a day after 45 minutes of
complex, engaging songwriting, Izah take a plunge into the deep end
with the monolithic 30+ minute title track of “Sistere”. Whilst
the previous tracks on the album generally cover ground that has been
well trodden by other artists, albeit in fine style, this is the
point where Izah really establish their own identity. It can be easy
to craft an incredibly long song by simply stringing together lots of
different ideas and styles and hoping for the best.
“Sistere”
however manages to cover miles of musical ground with each section
flowing seamlessly into the next without any parts seeming bolted on
or unnecessary. The track begins in familiar atmospheric post metal
territory but gets more interesting when the tempo is pushed to
breakneck speed bringing an air of black metal to proceedings. Izah
then manage to traverse sample and beat laden electronics, full brass
arrangements and a lengthy period of feedback and droning. The
audacity of this track really marks Izah out amongst their peers, and
if they can channel and apply this ambition on future releases they
could achieve something very special. They can be proud of what they
achieved with their debut which will be sure to win them many fans
during 2015.
Words
by Charlie Butler
Thanks
to Nordvis Produktion for the promo. Sistere will be available to buy
on March 1st 2015 from Nordvis Produktion.
For
more information
