Probably a surprise I found parts of this album interesting, especially considering ISVIND sound no different than alot of Norwegian bands these days. I think what interested me in this band was all the DARK THRONE comparisons, but I only hear a similarity in a few places. Most of "Dark Waters Stir" sounds like early EMPEROR ("In The Nightside Eclipse" era) without keyboards and not-as-high vocals. The last song (a "hidden" track called "Poltergeist") sounds like really shitty punk rock with clean vocals. My fave song is "Bankeand", an instrumental in which keyboards are added, and this was an excellent move (the song has a feel of total despair and depression!). Recommended for fans of old EMPEROR...

© 2000 bathym