Literally taking their name from a fjord of Ice Hjartastjaki is the new album from Icelandic Post-rock duo Isafjørd. An album recorded on the piano in a broken house in the middle of winter.
It is that picture that helps portray Hjartastjaki, Aðalbjörn Addi Tryggvason (Sólstafir) and Ragnar Zolberg (Sign/x-Pain of Salvation) have created what is at times a lonely desolate album, its edges sharp and yet tempered by the softness and beauty of the landscape. The native tongue is accompanied by sparse melodies and yet at times orchestral with sliding guitar that is matched only by the pop influences.
The haunting melody of Heiðin and its laid-back rhythm is matched only by the melancholy of Hjartastjaki that elevates itself into excellence on every listen. The melodies are lush yet at times the vocals are harsh and brittle. Its textures and subtleties are more apparent on every listen.
The beauty of Kuldaró and its sombre piano is matched by the vocals of loneliness, yet Fjord of Hope is almost classic rock combined with 80s new wave, it’s experimental and daring, the musicianship unparalleled in its restraint. The epic guitar fuzz of Njálssaga and keyboards creates a visual journey that is unhurried and yet climactic. Andvok combines them all into a stunning show of maturity and dedication it builds unrelenting and rewarding.
Dreamlike and ethereal Hjartastjaki conjures images and thoughts as you delve below its surface and travel on its musical journey. By no means a metal record but shares its spirit by being passionate, uncompromising, and true to itself.
Isafjørd: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Svart Records
Category: Album
Country: Iceland
Reviewed by Sparky
