Krieg - The Isolationist

August 26, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Krieg is a band that has been doing U.S. black metal since 1995 and has no less than a million releases under the bullet belt. For Imperial, the band’s vocalist and main man, his vehicle of dark hate has been one of endless split releases, a handful of EP’s and full-lengths, some of which were very hit or miss. That said, I like The Isolationist in its simplistic charm and cleaner approach. In some strange way it seems more polished, if that can be said for this raw brand of black metal born and bred in Soprano-town New Jersey.

While some releases from Krieg have been really good, others have been pretty lethargic and generic. The Isolationist has some very good structure to it along with some nice variation in tempo and mood, especially evident in “All Paths to God”, which is a tremendous tune in my opinion; it’s old school black metal from the underground stock with a serious penchant for what I can only deem stylish black metal because it’s not the typical ‘make-it-black-but-void-of-character’ effort that any Kentucky black thrash band can offer up. For a place in black metal history, the U.S. is more than casually scrutinized, and rightfully so, but Krieg puts out a classic piece here.

After 2006’s Blue Miasma the band was all but finished, announcing a split after its completion. The album was a good addition to the lineage, but maybe the short hiatus did the band a service because I certainly feel that this newest issue is one of very good caliber. With tracks like “Depakote,” some songs literally span the spectrum of metal diversity. This track is speedy black metal coupled with a moody prog-like passage of pure torture with a drum beat keeping time with volatile distant screams and tribal-like bellowing, only to kick right back into the chaotic frame with no warning.

Invariably you won’t hear anything new or innovative in The Isolationist, but you can manage to find some good black metal that seems to be constructed with some care and some thought, an element seriously lacking in this pathetic third wave of the genre. There are a few solid breaks in the overall expected design, which makes for a better listen to my ears than
The Church. I really like “All Paths to God”, “Depakote” and “Dead Windows”. The production is over board in decency, but still rife with imperfections, all of which can be conducive to the feel of the songs, so take that as you wish.

There are a couple of filler tracks here but nothing to get up in arms over; as a whole the album is a certain step forward as opposed to back for Krieg. If the three year stoppage was definitive for such a progression then I’m glad the time away helped because this one is quite good.  

Release Date: October 26, 2010
Label: Candelight Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  No Future
2.  Photographs From An Asylum
3.  All Paths to God
4.  Ambergeist
5.  Depakote
6.  Religion III
7.  Blue of Noon
8.  Decaying Inhalations
9.  An the Stars Fell On
10.  Remission
11.  Dead Windows

Total playing time:  55:22

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