Label - Svart Records
Release Date - 2nd December 2022
Words- Chris Fletcher
At this time of year when the days grow shorter and the temperatures plummet, it is only natural to reach for music that reflects the feelings brought on by the seasonal change. As winter tightens its grip, you can do no better than reaching for Hjartastjaki, the latest offering from Iceland post-rock duo Isafjord. With their band name fittingly translating as fjord of ice, this is an album that is both the perfect accompaniment to a bleak December evening, but also offers a comforting feeling that may keep you going back even as the world begins to thaw around you.
The two-man project (comprised of Addi and Ragnar, formerly of Solsatfir and Pain of Salvation respectively) have come together to explore a common Nordic heritage that also includes a disparate variety of inspirations, such as Judas Priest, Neil Young and The Beatles. The duo are able to focus these influences through a lens of frozen gloom that fans of Sigur Ros will find a lot to love about as the catchy yet haunting anthems unfold around you.
Hjartastjaki provides an ethereal experience that is both typical of post-rock, whilst simultaneously setting itself apart from the rest of the scene. The lush instrumentation that is evident on the lead guitar (‘Min Svarta Hilo’) and the combination of guitar and piano on the title track are capable of completely transporting you to another realm, and runs the full gamut of emotions between both hopefulness and hopelessness.
At its heart, this is eight tracks of sweeping, glacial song-writing that invites you to climb inside and inhabit the world that it paints before you, a cold yet beautiful expanse that taps into a euphoric melancholy that draws you back again and again. Whether you’re already a fan of post-rock or simply looking for a new journey that is scenic and different, this is a record that has much to offer and will prove to be a perfect companion for those frosty winter mornings and long dark nights.
8/10
Comentarios