Isildurs Bane - Isildurs Bane

callzend

Review by ronald zendrato

Isildurs Bane – A Prog Rock Gem That’s Worth Dusting Off Alright, buckle up, because we’re diving into Isildurs Bane, the self-titled debut album by the Swedish prog rockers Isildurs Bane. Released in 1988 under their own label (props for DIY vibes, lads!), this record is like that one quirky friend who shows up uninvited but somehow steals the party. It’s weird, ambitious, and occasionally pretentious—but hey, isn’t that what prog rock’s all about? Let’s start with "Lady In Green." This track hits you right off the bat with its lush synths and dreamy guitar work. The vibe? Somewhere between a fantasy novel soundtrack and your weird uncle’s retro keyboard collection. What sticks out most is how effortlessly it blends moody atmospheres with bursts of technical wizardry. You can almost picture Gandalf jamming to this while smoking pipeweed—minus the awkward coughing fit. It’s not just music; it’s an auditory painting, if paintings could wear bell-bottoms and grow beards. Then there’s "Tom Bombadil," which feels like someone mashed up Tolkien lore with '80s arena rock and some serious caffeine jitters. The rhythm bounces around so much it practically begs you to grab a sword—or at least wave your air guitar dramatically. There’s something oddly charming about how chaotic yet calculated it feels, like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. Bonus points for making me wonder why more songs aren’t named after obscure Middle-earth characters. Now, I won’t lie—the rest of the album has moments where it wanders off into sonic nether realms, leaving you scratching your head. Tracks like "Factory Man" and "Sea Reflection" are solid enough, but they don’t quite have the same sticky charm as the two standouts mentioned above. Still, even when it falters, you gotta respect the sheer audacity of throwing everything but the kitchen sink into these tunes. Progressive rock thrives on taking risks, after all. So, here’s the kicker: listening to Isildurs Bane feels like stepping into a time machine set to 1988 Sweden, only to find yourself surrounded by guys wearing capes and debating whether analog synths are superior to digital ones. And honestly? That’s kind of delightful. Sure, it’s not perfect, but perfection is overrated anyway. Sometimes, you just need a gloriously messy journey through soundscapes that refuse to play by the rules. Final thought: If aliens ever invade Earth and demand proof of humanity's artistic potential, slipping them this album might confuse them enough to leave us alone. Or maybe they’d stick around for the encore. Either way, mission accomplished.

Download Isildurs Bane - Isildurs Bane
Artist: Isildurs Bane
Album: Isildurs Bane

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: isildurs-bane-isildurs-bane.zip
  • MP3 size: 39.5 mb
  • FLAC size: 163.5 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Factory Man
Tom Bombadil
Ouvertyr Till Älgen
Sea Reflection
Lady In Green

Labels

Isildur Records

Listen online

  • ouvir online
  • online luisteren
  • escuchar en línea
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • lyssna på nätet
  • lytte på nettet
  • online anhören
  • ascolta in linea
  • écouter en ligne

Formats

  • Cassette
  • Single Sided
  • Promo

Notes

5 track promo cassette

About Isildurs Bane

Swedish symphonic progressive rock band founded Halmstad, Sweden in 1976. The group's name is a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien's book Lord of the Rings (the one ring is also called Isildur's Bane). The group has since 2005 been working in project form, often under the abbreviation IB. Since 2005, IB has annually organized musical meetings under the name IB Expo where IB meets musicians from different geographical and musical backgrounds for a week to do clinics, workshops, masterclasses and a concert. The guests include Jerry Marotta, Tom Griesgraber, Mick Karn, Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter, Pamelia Kurstin, Mike Keneally, Björn J:son Lindh, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Janne Schaffer, Adrian Belew, Julie Slick, Marco Minnemann, Lisa Nordström, Lisen Rylander Löve, Michala Østergaard-Nielsen, Tony Levin, Michael Bernier, Jakko Jakszyk, Trey Gunn, Morgan Ågren, Aranis Trio, Phil Manzanera, Guy Pratt, Liesbeth Lambrecht, Iris Thissen, Lindha Kallerdahl, Jolien Wils, Richard Barbieri, Steve Hogarth, Peter Hammill and David Thorne.

Members

  • Joachim Gustafsson
  • Mats Nilsson
  • Linnea Olsson
  • Ingvar Johansson
  • Luca Calabrese
  • Jan Severinsson
  • Jonas Christophs
  • Klas Assarsson
  • Fredrik Johansson
  • Kjell Severinsson
  • Fredrik Emilson
  • Stigge Ljunglöf
  • Bo N Roth
  • Liesbeth Lambrecht
  • Christian Jerhov
  • Jan-Ove Nilsson
  • Christian Saggese
  • Samuel Hällkvist
  • Katrine Amsler
  • Fredrik Janáček
  • Mariette Hansson
  • Christof Jeppsson
  • Tommy Nilsson
  • Thomas Olsson
  • Mats Johansson
  • Bengt Johansson
  • Axel Crone

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The 1988 Swedish prog rock album *Isildurs Bane* by Isildurs Bane is like a hidden gem for rock fans. It’s packed with tracks that feel like mini adventures—like "Lady In Green" and "Tom Bombadil." The band even self-released it on their own label, Isildur Records. Not bad for a group from Sweden, right?