{"id":80871,"date":"2018-06-08T11:00:11","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.toiletovhell.com\/?p=80871"},"modified":"2018-06-08T10:52:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-08T15:52:15","slug":"review-spectral-embrace-by-isenordal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/review-spectral-embrace-by-isenordal\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Spectral Embrace by Isenordal"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p>Seattle-based black funeral doom\/dark folk project Isenordal brings us <em>Spectral Embrace<\/em>, a mournful acoustic record released on the first of this month, kicking off an absolutely massive US tour.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The first full-length offering of the band\u2019s dark folk side is masterfully composed and performed. Right out the gate I can tell these guys treat their craft with the seriousness and respect it deserves and I was pulled straight in. The group\u2019s use of percussion especially adds to the mysticism of the opening track as arrhythmic chimes and bells tinkle over the guitar and vocal lines. Strings are introduced with simple but strong harmonies and percussion is showcased again toward the end with thundering polyrhythms. Fucking fantastic.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"100\" src=\"http:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/v=2\/album=1624993349\/size=venti\/bgcol=FFFFFF\/linkcol=4285BB\/\" style=\"position:relative;display:block;width:400px;height:100px;\" allowtransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>While the opening track \u201cThe Sorrow of a Shadowed World\u201d is well-written and catches attention, it\u2019s on the second track, \u201cInevitable Product of the Foretold\u201d that their composition skills really begin to shine, opening with pizzicato strings rebounding off of one another while vocals intertwine call-and-answer lines. The minimalist approach to their music writing adds to the otherworldliness of the record, full of grief and nature worship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn Entrancing Dream\u201d features some of the best vocals on the record, packing more power and longing than what we\u2019ve heard thus far, and adding a fantastic contrast. The group conveys the themes of grief and loneliness wrapped in nature worship pastiche with skill and have reached that level of ensemble playing where they are able to play off of each other\u2019s strengths and bring out the best parts of their music.<\/p>\n<p>The final track, \u201cTo Turn Thy Thoughts from the Tree of Life,\u201d is the best showcase of what Isenordal\u2019s folk side is bringing to the table, opening with singing in counterpoint to one another as the song develops layers that ultimately lead to some of the best use of accordion textures I\u2019ve heard in a while. The use of open perfect intervals adds a pseudo-medieval flair as the vocals repeat in a sort of chant. This is perfect music for the gloomy Pacific Northwest, which is no surprise coming from a Cascades-based group, though we are in the full swing of summer now. But I\u2019d still recommend brewing a cup of tea and letting <em>Spectral Embrace<\/em> wash over you, especially once fall and winter roll around.<\/p>\n<p><em>Spectral\u00a0<\/em><em>Embrace<\/em> is out now through Eternal Warfare Records.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NEW_TOILETSCALE_4_of_5.jpg?ssl=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-51603\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NEW_TOILETSCALE_4_of_5-1024x234.jpg?resize=1024%2C234&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NEW_TOILETSCALE_4_of_5.jpg?resize=1024%2C234&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NEW_TOILETSCALE_4_of_5.jpg?resize=300%2C68&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NEW_TOILETSCALE_4_of_5.jpg?resize=768%2C175&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NEW_TOILETSCALE_4_of_5.jpg?w=1249&amp;ssl=1 1249w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Isenordal is on tour now with Void Omnia<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_30796\"  width=\"320\" height=\"240\"  data-origwidth=\"320\" data-origheight=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZUZB7EzJzJA?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>6\/04\/2018 Mootsy\u2019s \u2013 Spokane, WA *#<br \/>\n6\/05\/2018 Zebra Lounge \u2013 Bozeman, MT *#<br \/>\n6\/06\/2018 Crown Bar \u2013 Cheyenne, WY *#<br \/>\n6\/07\/2018 Hi-Dive \u2013 Denver, CO #<br \/>\n6\/08\/2018 71 Grind \u2013 Colorado Springs, CO #<br \/>\n6\/09\/2018 71 Grind \u2013 Colorado Springs, CO #<br \/>\n6\/10\/2018 Buckhorn \u2013 Laramie, WY #<br \/>\n6\/11\/2018 Urban Lounge \u2013 Salt Lake, UT #<br \/>\n6\/12\/2018 Shea\u2019s Tavern \u2013 Reno, NV #<br \/>\n6\/13\/2018 Press Club \u2013 Sacramento, CA #<br \/>\n6\/14\/2018 Golden Bull \u2013 Oakland, CA #<br \/>\n6\/15\/2018 Sirens Song \u2013 Eureka, CA #<br \/>\n6\/16\/2018 Old Nick\u2019s \u2013 Eugene, OR #<br \/>\n6\/17\/2018 Tonic Lounge \u2013 Portland, OR #<br \/>\n6\/18\/2018 Black Lodge \u2013 Seattle, WA #<br \/>\n6\/19\/2018 The Valley \u2013 Tacoma, WA<br \/>\n6\/20\/2018 Cryptatropa \u2013 Olympia, WA<br \/>\n6\/21\/2018 Thirst For Light \u2013 Pe Ell, WA<br \/>\n6\/23\/2018 Stygian Rites \u2013 Rapid City, SD<br \/>\n6\/24\/2018 Lee\u2019s Liquor Lounge \u2013 Minneapolis, MN<br \/>\n6\/25\/2018 Wisco \u2013 Madison, WI<br \/>\n6\/26\/2018 High Dive MKE \u2013 Milwaukee, WI<br \/>\n6\/27\/2018 Subterranean \u2013 Chicago, IL<br \/>\n6\/28\/2018 Sanctuary \u2013 Detroit, MI<br \/>\n6\/29\/2018 Brillobox \u2013 Pittsburgh, PA<br \/>\n6\/30\/2018 Holo \u2013 New York, NY<br \/>\n7\/01\/2018 Kung Fu Necktie \u2013 Philadelphia, PA<br \/>\n7\/02\/2018 The Depot \u2013 Baltimore, MD<br \/>\n7\/03\/2018 Strange Matter \u2013 Richmond, VA<br \/>\n7\/04\/2018 Odditorium \u2013 Asheville, NC<br \/>\n7\/05\/2018 Sweetwater \u2013 Nashville, TN<br \/>\n7\/06\/2018 Santos \u2013 New Orleans, LA<br \/>\n7\/07\/2018 Renos Chop Shop \u2013 Dallas, TX<br \/>\n7\/08\/2018 The Lost Well \u2013 Austin, TX<br \/>\n7\/09\/2018 The Cave \u2013 Santa Fe, NM<br \/>\n7\/10\/2018 Yucca Tap Room \u2013 Tempe, AZ<br \/>\n7\/11\/2018 Cornish Pastry Co \u2013 Las Vegas, NV<br \/>\n* no Void Omnia<br \/>\n# with Addaura<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seattle-based black funeral doom\/dark folk project Isenordal brings us Spectral Embrace, a mournful acoustic record released on the first of this month, kicking off an absolutely massive US tour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":80872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Isenordal get incredibly heavy on this acoustic record","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[370,70],"tags":[7282,13092,7228],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/cover_1527788199325988-Copy.jpg?fit=710%2C350&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80871"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/99"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}