ISILIEL – Moonbow Rebellion

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://www.isiliel.com/

Isiliel is the solo project of Himari Tsukishiro – known from her work with Necronomidol. With Isiliel, she’s built a sound that blends black metal, power metal, gothic atmosphere, and synth-heavy idol pop. Her debut set the foundation – Moonbow Rebellion builds on it with sharper production, more dynamic arrangements, and a stronger sense of purpose. It’s heavier, more cinematic, and feels fully realized.

A big part of that step forward comes from the production – once again handled by Nicholay Hovland, who has become an essential part of the Isiliel sound. His work doesn’t just clean up the mix – it gives the album weight and space. Guitars cut through without drowning the synths, vocals are layered without sounding crowded, and the drums hit with clarity and depth. Nicholay understands the balance between chaos and structure – his mix gives every element its moment without dulling the overall intensity. It’s a huge part of why the album sounds as cohesive and polished as it does.

Composition-wise, Moonbow Rebellion feels tightly crafted. The album flows front to back without dragging – transitions are smooth, and several songs bleed into each other in ways that feel intentional. The tracklist has a clear arc – the early songs hit hard and fast, the middle leans into atmospheric build-ups and texture, and the final stretch feels more triumphant and anthem-like. Himari plays with contrast throughout – soft vocals against blastbeats, synths layered over tremolo guitars, whispered verses that explode into soaring choruses. Nothing feels random – every song has a defined shape, and there’s a natural pacing to how the energy rises and falls. It works just as well as a full listen as it does track by track.

Black Moon
The album opens with Black Moon – a short but impactful track. A distorted guitar intro quickly crashes into fast-paced power metal riffing. It’s familiar Isiliel territory, but sharper and more aggressive than before. The blastbeats at the end flow straight into the next song without pause – it’s a clean and deliberate opener.

Sanguine Covenant
A gothic harpsichord melody leads into an explosion of black metal guitars and relentless blastbeats. The fusion of black and power metal comes through clearly here – layered technical instrumentals, soaring melodies, and Himari’s voice climbing across octaves. A slower breakdown builds tension before an epic solo takes over. The vocal layering is dense but effective – it’s theatrical, melodic, and punishing at the same time.

Vesperal Salvation
More restrained at first – a melodic synth intro and low vocals set a moody tone. The pre-chorus plays with tension, repeating patterns and delaying resolution. A spoken-word section over a rolling drum beat adds to the atmosphere. When the chorus finally lands at the end, it feels earned. Another strong solo seals it. This one stretches things out and keeps you guessing.

Umbral Exorcism
Thrash and power metal influences come through hard here – a faster track with driving rhythm guitar and cymbal-heavy drums. Himari’s high notes here are among the strongest on the album. The synth solos are standout moments – clean, energetic, and perfectly timed. It’s one of the more straightforward tracks structurally, but the momentum carries it all the way.

Serpent’s Aubade
This one plays with contrast more than most. Himari starts off with soft, lullaby-like vocals – almost whispering. Layers build slowly – voice harmonies, battle drums, and rhythmic chanting. The clean guitar lines add tension until it all crashes into a wall of distortion and freedom in the vocals. It’s eerie, beautiful, and then overwhelming – and the transition into the next song is one of the album’s best moments.

Noctifer Rising
This is a battle anthem. Marching drums and rhythmic riffs lay the groundwork. Himari’s vocal style returns to something more familiar – until she hits another series of crazy high notes that somehow push things further. The pacing is sharp – slowing down for a breakdown before ramping back up into chaos. The drums really drive this one forward.

Lunar Incantation
This one hits immediately. Power metal-inspired riffing, headbang-worthy rhythm, and a detuned bass rumbling behind it all. The mix of elements here just works. Himari blends everything she’s done on the album so far into one track – clean and harsh textures, layered vocals, sudden shifts in tone. A black metal riff section near the end adds contrast before a final buildup to a massive chorus. This is the standout for me.

Moonbow Legion
Now this is a war song. The intro feels like a Sabaton track in spirit – slow chugging guitars, rising melodies, and Himari pushing her voice to the edge. It’s paced like a march – deliberate but powerful. The final solo is a perfect closer for this track – sharp, energetic, and full of drive. One of the most anthemic songs on the album.

Rebellion
The final track ties everything together. Traditional instrumentation flows into black metal riffing, synth melodies, and chanting vocals. It shifts between styles effortlessly – cutesy idol sections, heavy guitar chugs, and soaring choruses all show up. It’s a safe but satisfying closer – a bit of everything, done well. The final distorted riff fades out and leaves you wanting more.

Tour
With the release of Moonbow Rebellion, Himari is taking Isiliel back on the road for a summer tour across Europe. The run includes stops in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, the UK, and Sweden, with a mix of anime conventions, club venues, and festival stages. It’s a diverse set of dates that reflects the range of the project itself. Songs like Moonbow Legion and Noctifer Rising feel made for the stage, and seeing them performed live is only going to amplify their impact. This tour feels like the right next step for an artist who’s clearly hitting her stride.

Final thoughts
Moonbow Rebellion is a clear step up for Isiliel – more focused, more layered, and more confident. The production is excellent, the composition is deliberate, and the performances are sharp across the board. Himari expands both vocally and creatively here, and it pays off. A few moments gave me actual chills, and tracks like Lunar Incantation and Serpent’s Aubade stand among her best. It’s not trying to reinvent the genre – but it doesn’t have to. Execution is what matters, and this album delivers. For me, it’s a solid 5.5 out of 6.