ALBUM REVIEW: Isle Of Bliss – Hanging Garden
Since 2004 and through several lineup changes, melancholic melody merchants HANGING GARDEN have made a name for themselves. Creating often atmospheric soundscapes, layering in rich textures and generating a mournful yet captivating style. They’ve garnered critical acclaim for their compositions and lush production. Now, the Finnish seven piece are embarking down a darker road than that which they have trodden before. Album nine, Isle Of Bliss seeks to combine the desolation and musical prowess of earlier works with a heavier core. A blend of more death doom elements to complement the delicate goth melodies for which they have become known.
Opening with the swirling majesty of To Outlive The Nine Ravens, it is immediately apparent that HANGING GARDEN are not just toying with the concept of trying a darker sound. They have whole heartedly committed to the intent. The layered synths and delicate framework for melodies are still a core of the sound. They have honed a blast beat edge that drives an altogether more dominant style. This is not wispy, ethereal gothic led doom. The gutturals and the colossal riffs illustrate an anger and a drive for something far heavier. Not to say that the band have done a complete 180, they’ve still got a host of elements that have come to define their sound and style, yet they’ve harnessed more techniques to incorporate a raw and formidable genre like death metal. What’s more, they’ve nailed it.
With a cascade of melodic melancholia, Isle Of Bliss offers up continuous moments of doom drenched enjoyment. Coupled with the powerful emotive weight that they are able to weave into their song-craft, HANGING GARDEN make a commanding statement of intent with the addition of visceral heavyweight harshness. With the opening track firmly establishing the style of the album, the seven-piece proceed to develop it further and deliver moments of standout quality. The title track and The Death Upon Our Shoulders are two such examples of the high calibre to be found on this album. The former introducing anthemic levels of catchy guitar work and commanding vocal performances cutting effortlessly between symphonic cleans and guttural lows. All this overlays a relentless rhythm section. Like the rest of the album, the production mix is executed to deliver every aspect with maximum clarity and a unified force to be reckoned with. The latter track, gives some of the peak heaviness on Isle Of Bliss. With an ebb and flow, it’s not an all-out assault meaning that when the darker, heavier aspects are introduced, they hit like a sledge hammer.
For those new to the band, Her Waning Light provides a window into the sound style of their back catalogue. Producing captivating harmonies and cleaner vocal deliver blended expertly with multi layered instrumentation. All of which provides a truly epic soundscape that meanders delicately away from the heavier aspects of this album, yet still fits perfectly.
Sombre, surging, and utterly spellbinding. For album number nine, HANGING GARDEN have shown that the well of inspiration is as plentiful as ever. Without rehashing ideas or playing it safe with a pre-established sound, the band are happy to push their boundaries and lean into a darker soundscape. Retaining many of the elements present on their extensive catalogue, yet approaching with a more sinister edge, the result is an album of heavyweight power, precision, and enrapturing melancholy. Delivering unmissable doom blended with ferocious death qualities, its hugely enjoyable from start to finish.
Rating: 9/10
Isle of Bliss is set for release on March 20th via Agonia Records.
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