I am going to assume for your own sake that you are familiar with Isis, the doom-sludge-metal outfit that saw an overwhelmingly positive response to their last full-length, Oceanic. If you are completely clueless, you might want to go out, purchase said album, and them come back after you've given it a good four or five listens all the way … Read more
As I did with the review of Volume I, I will recommend that those of you who have not heard Isis, in particular the band's last full-length Oceanic, head out to your local independent record store and purchase a copy. Give the album a few listens and then you can come back and read the remainder of this review. And … Read more
While this may seem repetitive to say, before you listen to Volume III, it would be in your best interest to purchase the band's last full-length, Oceanic, before you listen to these remixes. After absorbing the full-length, these reworkings of tracks will make much more sense. Side A starts off with Mike Patton's rendition of the track "Maritime." Patton always … Read more
Despite what the calendar may tell you, Christmas has arrived early this year, though much earlier than expected. To my doorstep came a US Postal Service delivery man bearing a package with my name and the Hydrahead logo on it, instantaneously I knew exactly what dwelt inside. I politely thanked Santa, who apparently goes by the name of Tom these … Read more
The time has finally come. Originally scheduled for a release in November, printing and pressing delays pushed the album's release back to January. Fortunately we were able to pass the time with a new Isis full-length, Panopticon. But now, the fourth and final volume of the remixes and reinterpretations of Isis' titanic effort Oceanic is available for us to bear … Read more
Isis has easily become a standard for the "post-" jet setter. Their latest album, In the Absence of Truth is a good example why this is happening. If not for the band, then the Red Sparowes' (with whom Isis shares a member), Cult of Luna's, and the host of imitators and admirers would have no one to look to for … Read more
More than ten years have passed since the first time that these eyes witnessed Isis and man does it ever make me feel old. That brash first performance to which I am referring (Paper Weight Fest in New Jersey) was an eye opening and ear deafening experience which literally changed my perceptions on music in one fell swoop. Fast forward … Read more
A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your … Read more
A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your … Read more
A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your … Read more
A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your … Read more
A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your … Read more
A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five—wait, hold up a moment. I finished those last summer. What's with the new release?Turns out Isis still have a few cards left to play despite, you know, not actually being … Read more
When Isis called it a day, it felt as if a part of me was ending in a similar manner as the band had meant so much to me over the course of their prestigious run; but hanging over their end statement was the promise of one last recording to be given to the band’s listeners, and, with Temporal, the … Read more
I absolutely love Isis--I can't get enough of that perfectly executed ambient/sludge mix that they've come to be known for. And for someone like me who loves them enough to delve into the deepest corners of their catalogue, their 2012 rarities compilation Temporal came as a welcome entry to their discography.Disc one begins with your standard assortment of demo material. … Read more
I could make a career out of doing reviews of Isis reissues. But what makes reviewing Celestial so difficult is that it is already a legendary album, to the point where everything to be said about it from a critical standpoint has been said before. So instead of trying to sell you on the album itself (because really, it's just … Read more
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