Rating: 7.5/10
Release: 23 June 2013
Label: Independent

Always exciting when a band makes its first album. What do you get more of the same. Something original. Will it be good compositions or a bunch of folk jamming their way around. This time it’s up to Isatha. After some troubles with their line up, they decided they would focus on the Balkan folk and be a proud member of that.
And I can tell you, they did a fine job. They use nice a nice authentic instruments, although the flutes can’t be heard very good. And as you can expect from a Hungarian band, this is the violin, when you here songs like Utolsó Dal and Árnykirályság you can hear a lot of fine violin which gives their music this typical Hungarian atmosphere. The vocals are done by a Peter with his low growling voice and Judit who has a typical Hungarian voice, nice clean.
The folk-elements have a prominent place in their music as you can hear in a song like Vándor which has this delicious folk-piece in it. But don’t worry it becomes soft, the guitarist and their companions on bass and drums are there when it’s needed. And in folk-metal, they’re needed a lot. In Pogány Átok for instance, there is a nice folk-violin, but the drums are pounding and the guitars fill you’re room with their nice riffs.
The compositions are nice, the songs are very pleasant to listen to. And the recording and production is nice as well. I thought all went wrong at some point, when their music is filled with instruments, but they did a fine job and kept it all nicely separated, my compliments.

The fans of Hungarian folk-metal will love this one. Don’t expect very new and original ideas from Isatha. But it’s nog a copy or garbage. They have simply made a nice Hungarian folk-metal album. Again this beautiful country has brought us a nice folk-metal band. Especially nice considering this is their first album. I’m longing for more.

Tracklist

1. Felkelő Nap
2. A Vérvörös Ég Alatt
3. Árnykirályság
4. Suttogó Erdő
5. Utolsó Dal
6. Vándor
7. Pogány Átok
8. Árulók Balladája
9. Álomösvény