Mesarthim - Isolate X (2025)

We have always been fans of pretty much any band that Avantgarde Music discovers, as they always find completely unique and totally awesome outfits and releases. However, around 10 years ago, the label released in CD Mesarthim’s debut “Isolate”, a very forward thinking and completely captivating release that mixed Atmospheric Black Metal with electronic/trance elements.

Fast forward to today, the label is unleashing the ten year anniversary of this masterpiece with a special extra disc, featuring reinterpretations of the songs via other Avantgarde outfits. The release opens with Remina’s reworking of “Osteopenia”, a masterful piece that not only takes you to outer space, as it also features the enchanting vocals of Heike Langhans, giving this song a whole new level of dreamy and ethereal vibes.

New outfit, Bianca, takes on the crafty “Declaration” and puts their own spin with some hellish BM onslaughts and hypnotic clean female vocals. Taking the song’s electronics to new levels, “Isolate” is elevated to a Ibiza-level dance piece, in a very crafty way. The dramatic new arrangements of “Interstellar” also elevate this track to new heights, giving an extra kick in the atmospheric department.

As the release closes with the punishing “Abyss”, and the very Close Encounters of the Third Kind-esque “Floating”, we are left reinvigorated that a release as awesome as “Isolate” could be made better and even more playful and atmospheric. All the bands did a great job in respecting and masterfully re-interpreting the original songs, giving them their own spin, imprinting their own signature style, while still keeping them awesome and dreamy.

Label: Avantgarde Music

Release: Septmeber 19th, 2025

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal/Electronic

Country: Australia