The Isolationist

Isolationist as defined by the Webster dictionary;
–adjective
1. Of or pertaining to isolationism or an advocate thereof.
–noun
2. One who advocates or supports isolationism.

It's been 4 silent years since the last full length Krieg album. In those years we've heard frontman N.Imperial pop-up like a monstrous behemoth emerging out of the frozen waters, looking through its pale amphibious eyes, its next victim. There's been a split here and a new uploaded cover there and some re-issues of past demos, but nothing new as far as a new chapter in the psychologically nightmare that is Krieg's music. Just a few weeks ago the new album was released and it's been worth the wait.

The first hint of what the new album 'The Isolationist" sounds like is of course the widely-released Mp3 "All Paths to God" which hinted a much more fuller, more controlled sound that is way more akin to "The Black House" than the lo-fi almost swan song album "Blue Miasma". In fact "The Isolationist" even sees N.Imperial pushing the experimental edge a bit further. Not unlike Nachtmystium where it's too much, but there are hints and dips of the different shades now that enhance the smothering almost claustrophobic silence where the listener is taken on the terror and fear-inducing panic that comes with such extreme measures. A prime example of this is the song "Depakote.” Named after an anti-convulsant medication used in the treatment of manic depression, N.Imperial shows influences taken from the 80's electronic/post-punk group Public Image Limited. "No Future" is another example, but only by the song title alone seeing how the title was taken from the original 70's Punk counter-culture. Other songs show a creeping ambience in them such as "All Paths to God", "Photographs from the Asylum" and the last quarter of the album hints a return back into those dark, silent, deadly waters that ended "The Black House" album.

In short, "The Isolationist" is not a return, nor a comeback, and not even a continuation, but almost a revisioning of the bleak and nihilistic sonic landscape that is essentially the Krieg sound. It's darker, older, and possibly more dangerous.