Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)

This is the third album from Greek black metallers Isolert.

Isolert gained my attention with 2015’s Isolated Soul, held it with 2016’s No Hope, No Light…Only Death and 2017’s split with Insanity Cult – Towards the Great Dissolution, and then exceeded all expectations with 2020’s fantastic World in Ruins. The latter ended up in my top three in my end of year list for that year, so to say expectations are high for Wounds of Desolation is an understatement.

But wait, there’s a potential fly in the ointment. The promo blurb tells us that “…it marks a shift in sound for us as this is the most complex, demanding and ferocious material we have recorded so far.” So, what does this mean in practice? With no small amount of apprehension, I dove in…

I’m initially disturbed by the fact that there is an intro track, but fear not, as this is not the normal pointless filler that most bands peddle. No, this is under two minutes of magnificence. It’s an impressive good start. When first song proper – The End of Beauty – explodes out of speakers in all of its aggressive melodic glory…well, I’m thoroughly sold.

Isolert’s new material – 38 minutes of the stuff – is ferocious and rich in melodic depth. The band have essentially taken the style that they did so well on World in Ruins and increased the intensity and intricacy, while still crafting exquisite melodies that drip with feeling and emotive presence. There is also an abundance of riffs that are more jagged and sharper than there were previously – you can hear a thrash influence in places that is incorporated into the blackened whole very nicely.

The songs are well-crafted examples of how to combine black metal’s cold harsh attack with vibrant fiery melody. The band’s abrasive aggression is withering, but it’s twinned with blazing colour and emotive detailing that’s captivating. This makes for music that scars the listener with a powerful blackened bite, while also filling them with stirring infernal atmosphere, as the majestic soundscapes soar and fall with epic dark appeal.

Every song is a highlight, offering a wealth of musical landscapes to explore. Spewing Venomous Gloom is a great example of Isolert at their best, showcasing a few different facets of the band’s sound in one well-rounded masterful package. A song like the three-minute Flesh, Torn, Asunder! is more direct with its approach. A brutal whirlwind of blackened hostility, it’s a relentless assault, but even this has a nuance to it that elevates it above the average. On the other end of the scale, the longest cut on Wounds of Desolation is the final one, Reflections on Nothingness. This song gives Isolert the chance to spread their wings, delivering a monumental song that closes the album with esoteric potency. I’ll also mention the sublime Herald of Demise, which is possibly the best song here, which is saying something considering the high quality levels across the album. It’s an atmospheric powerhouse of a song that’s drenched in dark auras.

Wounds of Desolation somehow manages to channel the spirit of the early 90s, while simultaneously delivering a sleek modern interpretation of the style. It’s a hideously impressive and accomplished achievement.

Isolert are exceptionally good at writing black metal that’s hyper-aggressive, melodically rich, and atmospherically dense. Wounds of Desolation simply confirms Isolert’s position as one of the best in the world when it comes to this sort of style.

Essential listening for connoisseurs of supreme black metal art.