I'm working my way through a pile of left-over releases from 2011.
In the best of worlds, I'd have all 2011 releases done on my over-filled plate done by the 1st of January, but, sadly, it isn't so.
One of the albums I could easily have dedicated more time to finish before the turn of the year is 'Born From Shadows' by Swedish Isole. It's a great doom album!
Isole uses many of the genre characteristics and mixes them intelligently. You can find elements that remind you of e.g. Black Sabbath, Candlemass and My Dying Bride.
There is certainly a special kind of power in the doom bands who play it slow and dark, but I personally do prefer the ones who also use up-tempo parts in between the heavy doom. In Isole's case, there are parts almost progressive, something which works out great.
Add to that a vocal that is mostly clear, but also shows a bit of teeth with a near-black metal sneer on the rare occasion as well as a death metal grunt (Condemned).
If you like good quality, diverse, epic sounding doom, then look no further. Great stuff, this one!
