Let's start the interview introducing ISOLE to readers, you began the band in 2004 through a promo tape, didn't you ? What is the musical background of members ? And is there any meaning behind the band name, excepted the obvious dictionary one ?
Well... the band actually goes way back, as you know, although we got kind of a new start coinciding with the change of name. The first thing we ever released under that name was the "Forevermore"-album, not counting the mentioned advance promo we recorded for I Hate Records.
You could say that me and Crister has a common musical background since we've been playing together since the late 80's. Henka is a few years younger, but began playing in Forlorn back in 1995. Jonas, however, is the "freshman" since he's only been with us since early 2005. Me, Crister and Henka are all self thought. Jonas is the only one with some kind of musical education. Anyway, we've all been involved in numerous other bands and projects over the years... to many to mention here.
Hmm.. what else? Ah.. yes.. The meaning behind the name... To be honest, there is nothing more than the dictionary one. We wanted something with a meaning at least related to that of "Forlorn", so.. our French speaking former guitarist Per came up with the name... and we liked it ! Still don't know how to either spell or pronounce it correctly, though (so, if the band name is a French word, that might be "Isolé" ???-ed)

The band began with Forlorn as band name, why did you switch it for ISOLE ? Was it because of the Norwegian band ?
Yes. Them and a handful of other bands having the same name.

How would you describe a perfect Doom Metal composition ? According to you what are the key elements for a milestone tune in this genre ? What are your 5 favourites Doom hymns ?
I don't really know where to start here... To me, there are no kind of blueprint-doom hymn. I just like it heavy, dark and melancholic. Sometimes melodic and demanding, other times harsh and simplistic.
I cannot guarantee I'll stand for this songlist next time you ask me, but to at least try to give an impression of what I like, here I have 5 damn good doom songs for you:
Krux - Devil sun
Shape of Despair - ...In the mist
Memento Mori - Heathendoom
Bathory - Twilight of the gods
Dissolving of prodigy - Affliction

How did you end on I Hate Records for your two first records ? I think this label is very dedicated to bands they sign, and even though their financial means are limited they try to promoted them the better they can….
Simple answer ! Ola contacted us and wanted to release something. We said yes. Their dedication is endless, but as you say. Their finances are limited. Anyway, they've done a good job for us and I hope they think the same of us. We'll see whether if those two albums becomes three...

According to you, what are the main evolution between "Forevermore" and "Throne Of Void" as there only one year between each release ? I know that it's my job to review albums and compare them, but this time I'd like to get your feeling…
I believe, "T.O.V." is more homogeneous and well played. Maybe a bit darker and harsher and more vocal oriented. "Forevermore" was more shattered, but also had more dynamic. Which one you prefer is a matter of taste, I guess.
I personally prefer "T.O.V.", although I sometimes miss the variation presented on "Forevermore". Maybe a third album will get things just right...

There's a song of your album called "Insomnia". I'd like you to explain the content of the lyrics ? Do you suffer from insomnia ? Life could turn into nightmare when you can't properly sleep, so what is your relation to this illness as I would called it illness ? Furthermore it was a mean of torture during many wars to get information from prisoners…
Since I hardly write any lyrics I have to leave this particular one to Crister.
Crister: No I'm not suffering from insomnia, but I have some troubles sleeping though due to pain in my back so I just wrote during one night when I couldn't sleep. I think it was the last lyrics for the album, we had decided to include the song on "Throne Of Void" and I felt forced to write some lyrics so that the song would be complete. I think I just wrote down what I felt there and then. I truly hope I never will suffer from this disease because as you said life will turn into a nightmare.

Doom lyrics meanly deal with the human curse and the very dark side of mankind, so would you consider yourself as a bleak lad, or sad guy ?
Hehe... well, not really. I've got my ups and downs just like any sane person has. I just happen to enjoy sad music. And with sad music you get sad lyrics.

Let's keep on the vocal department questions, in my "Throne Of Void" review I mentioned a connection between your vocals and the one from Solitude Aeternus's Robert Lower do you agree with me ? By the way, what is your view on their new release "Alone" ?
In some ways we may have some similarities, be it vocal lines, harmonies or some characteristic in the voice, but I think the differences are more prominent. He just has so much brilliance and power in his voice which I lack.

I remember that back in the 80's many Thrash and Speed Metal fans considered Doom Metal music as a sleeping music. They were searching for ultra fast and straight in the head riffs with bands such as Whiplash, Kreator, Dark Angel, Possessed while Doom Metal has always delivered slow tempo compositions. I myself were much more into speed tempo releases than mid tempo albums, was it the same with you and other band members ? Furthermore, I felt that Doom Metal was the rising scene than never reached the front lights in Metal fanzines and magazines, don't you think so ?
There was a time when I though fast = good. I'm still into a LOT of fast music, but I tend to be a bit harder to convince nowadays. Henka and (especially) Jonas listens to a lot of fast stuff while Crister always have been the calm guy. Hmm.. pure Doom Metal will probably never be big.. It's just to inaccessible and demands too much of the listener.

I'd like to know if you are only into Doom Metal music or if you listen to faster Metal releases ? You come from Sweden that has/had a very active and powerful Black and Death Metal scene through bands such as Dissection (rip), Bathory (rip), Watain, Nifelheim, Entombed, Dismember and so on, what is your regard on these two scenes ? Are there any favourite extreme bands you praise their releases ?
As you learned in the previous question, I listen to a lot of faster Metal - and a lot of non-Metal, I should add. Swedish Metal in general seems to present a quite high standard. Some of my favourite faster bands are Swedish. Especially Bathory (of course, their epic era was the best), early Entombed, Bloodbath, Hypocrisy and At the gates to name a few.

A part of the Black Metal scene is divided into what is labelled as "Funeral Doom Metal" consisting of playing a kind of very depressing and slow tempo Black Metal with most of the time tortured vocals (i.e. Shining, Forgotten Tomb, Bethlehem –more dark Metal, Onskapt…) are into this scene too ?
Haven't really heard many bands in this style. The ones I can come to think about are maybe Burzum (at times) and The Funeral Orchestra. As with any genre... sometimes it's excellent, sometimes it simply sucks.