Issa Sign of Angels

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by Joe Mis
Staff Writer

What if Britney Spears did metal? What if Avril Lavigne dropped the teenage angst bit? What if Lady Gaga focused on her music rather than image? What if Amy Lee wrote a happy song? You might get something like Scandinavian bombshell Issa’s debut release Sign Of Angels on Frontiers Records.

Issa (Isabell Oversveen) is a 26 year old singer from Oslo, Norway, and she’s not a rookie. Issa has been kicking around the music scene since she was 17, working with many local bands and record studios and winning much praise and support from both the Norwegian and international music industry. Now she has partnered with a group of veteran musicians to put out what could be one of the best debut albums of the year. Not metal, not hard rock, and certainly not bubble-gum pop, Issa’s music is a kicky and upbeat melange of all of these and more. In terms of tone and appeal it is perhaps comparable to Bon Jovi’s first album or Def Leppard’s Pyromania – real rock with a commercial sheen.

Issa has a wonderful voice and solid dynamic range. She can sing softly and quietly, but can also generate a huge amount of power and deliver it with attitude. She is a simple singer with a quality voice, not an operatic talent or a screamer – and simple works for her beautifully. The fact that this voice comes wrapped in an attractive blond Scandinavian certainly doesn’t hurt…

In a very smart move Issa has surrounded herself with veteran talents throughout the entire process of making Sign Of Angels. Produced by Ronny Milianowicz (Saint Deamon) and with songwriting help from Joacim Cans (Hammerfall), Thomas Vikström (Candlemass), and Sören Kronqvist (Crash the System) among others, Issa has done everything possible to present her talents in the best possible light. Her band is all top notch talent – guitarist Peter Huss (Shining), drummer Uli Kusch (Masterplan, Helloween), keyboardist Tim Larsson (Nick Lachey), and bassist Magnus “Nobby” Noberg (Dionysus, Saint Deamon). Somehow this collection of talent from genres ranging from pop to black metal have combined to write some catchy, hooky radio-friendly songs and perform like they’ve been playing together for years.

If there is one weakness on the album, it is simply that the CD is just a bit too slickly produced and a touch over-engineered – this isn’t power metal after all – and it carries too much of a “commercial” vibe. Issa’s vocals are doubled and tripled and more during some of the choruses and that is overkill. Her voice is clean and clear enough that it does not need this level of manipulation.

“Angels Crying” opens the CD as a straight up commercial rocker. Big chugging guitars and energetic vocals make this a fine starting point. The chorus and lyrics are so easy and catchy that the average listener will be able to sing along before the song finishes for the first time – something that is prevalent throughout. Massive radio hit is written all over “I’m Alive” – a solid performance but one of the most “commercial” songs on the album. “Give Me A Sign” starts off with a nice acoustic opening and becomes a solid soft rock track that allows Issa to demonstrate her full vocal range. “River Of Love” is a very upbeat and high energy track with some great lyrics, solid musicianship and terminally happy tone. “What Can I Do” is a lower energy song with some nice keyboard textures, but this track is built around Issa’s vocals and really shows them off. “Closer” is a very pop-rock tune and really doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the album – way too commercial sounding.

“Unbelievable” starts the second half of the album strongly, opening with some nice piano work and soft gentle vocals – this one would be another commercial radio smash. “How Will I Know” is a much harder track with more of a progressive metal sound to it courtesy of some fine keyboards and a simple but crunchy guitar line. “As I Live And Breathe” is another very catchy tune with a simple and very sing-able vocals and a nice bouncy bass line. “Flying High” is a nicely done progressive metal track with a killer bass line. “It’s Not Me” is a moody slow rock track with solid guitars and great expressive lyrics. “Fallen Angel” finishes up the disc on a high note – lots of energy and a very good vocal mix similar to Vixen or later Girlschool releases of the ’90s.

Issa has put out a great album and manages to stand out in the overcrowded female-fronted-metal-band pack. She sings with enthusiasm and style, and will bring a smile to the face of even the most jaded rock fan. Musically solid, slickly produced, very radio-friendly, incredibly upbeat and positive without being vapid or sugary, Sign Of Angels is a winner. If you don’t mind your heavy metal leathers smelling slightly of bubble gum or green apple then this album is highly recommended!

Frontiers will release Sign Of Angels on September 14 in Europe and October 10 in the US.

Genre: Melodic Metal

Band:
Issa (vocals)
Tim Larsson (keyboards)
Nobby Noberg (bass)
Uli Kusch (drums)
Peter Huss (guitars)

Track Listing:
1. Angels Crying
2. I’m Alive
3. Give Me A Sign
4. River Of Love
5. What Can I Do
6. Closer
7. Unbelievable
8. How Will I Know
9. As I Live and Breathe
10. Flying High
11. It’s Not Me
12. Fallen Angel

Label: Frontiers Records

Website: http://www.frontiers.it/album/4744/

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10