― scott seward, Thursday, 1 May 2003 19:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 19:50 (twenty years ago) link
― scott seward, Thursday, 1 May 2003 19:55 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 19:56 (twenty years ago) link
― scott seward, Thursday, 1 May 2003 20:00 (twenty years ago) link
― scott seward, Thursday, 1 May 2003 20:06 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 20:42 (twenty years ago) link
Recommended buy, on this album the band admitted to a heavy, The Cure influence during the recording of the album. That's The Cure of Poronography.
― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 1 May 2003 21:27 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 22:20 (twenty years ago) link
― original bgm, Friday, 2 May 2003 14:52 (twenty years ago) link
― original bgm, Friday, 2 May 2003 15:00 (twenty years ago) link
I can see some of the similarities that some people point out. It does have a similar drum sound and minimalist rhythm action like Shellac, some of the guitar work on the mellow parts isn't dissimilar to Mogwai and I suppose the track with the female vocalist probably sounds something between Tool and Sigur Ros, but all are a stretch.
I want to check out some Neurosis, but I haven't come across a store that has any in stock. The samples I have heard sound interesting.
I've picked up Sleep's "Holy Mountain", but haven't as yet put it in the discman. I'm planning on giving it a try later tonight.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 14 May 2003 13:45 (twenty years ago) link
Isis is a cool group. They definitely have a "sound". I have no clue what the lead singer is screaming, but at least they didn't make is so annoying by putting it up in the fron of the mix.
I like "Celestial" quite a bit more than "Oceanic" as it has much more drive and the pieces seem more self contained.
The Sleep record hasn't really gotten to me. It sounds like some stoners vibing out Sabbath Vol. 4 with an influence of Vaughn Bode on the lyrics. They must have some weed with alot of red hairs, considering the lyrics...those boys have been inspecing the outer rings of saturn in person.
I still want to check out a Neurosis record.
― Earl Nash (earlnash), Friday, 30 May 2003 00:09 (twenty years ago) link
― scott seward, Friday, 30 May 2003 02:21 (twenty years ago) link
'Through Silver In Blood' by Neurosis is fxxking intense. It sounds like the soundtrack to a raid by Ghenghis Khan.
'Times of Grace' by Neurosis was an easier listen, but it still is pretty heavy. Albini's engineering is much clearer and refined than 'Through Silver...', which is really raw and harsh.
It is hard to believe that a band that started on the westcoast hardcore scene could evolve to such a dynamic sound. The way Neurosis' music is structured is ways more similar to tribal ambient, some IDM or some sort of minimalist orchestral music than heavy metal/punk. It has accordian on it and not even as a joke.
Neurosis is very dense music, I can tell that these records will give out rewards to multiple listens. 'Through Silver In Blood' is so chilling and painful sounding, I think it will be something that I have to be in the mood to hear.
I can definitely see what Michael Gira heard in Neurosis and why he was interested in getting them to back up Swans, which would have been pretty interesting.
I also really liked Isis' SGNL05 ep. It is much more ambient and trance enducing than "Celestial". Justin Broaderick's remix is quite good.
― earlnash, Sunday, 22 June 2003 18:15 (twenty years ago) link
― scott seward, Sunday, 22 June 2003 18:33 (twenty years ago) link
To an extent, all punk/metal/hardcore etc. still has traces to the blues in the guitar riffs.
I got "The Red Sea" and "Mosquito Control" by Isis mailorder and have given had them on my CD walkman constantly since yesterday afternoon.
I'll keep an eye out for "Sovereign" and "A Sun that Never Sets".
Does any opinion on Botch or Dillenger Escape Plan? They both seem interesting, but I haven't heard them.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 25 June 2003 19:15 (twenty years ago) link
Ive been a fan of Isis for a while, and i can really recommend 'Oceanic' as an album to buy. It does take a few listens, some guy said he couldnt tell the songs apart - you have to listen to the album through a few times.
Its fantastically well played, at points it is heavy, but it has this drifty, swaying, floating feel about it.
Celestial has more of an electronic feel to it, buzzing and fizzing in the background, the album is alive with strange 'space' like sounds, whereas 'Mosquito effect EP' has more of a claustrophobic, 'dirty' feel to it, not quite as polished etc..
Go check out Celestial and Oceanic, both great albums to listen to, i really get lost in that stuff :D
Also while your at it, check out Aaron Turner (Isis) side project, Old Man Gloom. And another great band called 'Cult of Luna'..
Seeya later!feel free to msn me
― Deadsalesman, Thursday, 27 November 2003 23:53 (twenty years ago) link
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 28 November 2003 22:40 (twenty years ago) link
http://rock-a-rolla.com/main/?p=6044https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=765670390147794&id=158503560864483
Post-metal pioneers ISIS are set to reissue their classic 2002 LP Oceanic this November, fully remastered and featuring new packaging.
The reissue follows remasters of Celestial in 2013 and Panopticon earlier in 2014. “With the Oceanic remaster I feel we’ve saved the best for last,” explained drummer Aaron Harris. “The clarity that’s been revealed in these songs was surprising even to me. I’ve heard these songs probably thousands of times. When I listened to the remastered version of Weight it was like I was back in the studio recording the song. I also noticed a lot of new detail in Jeff’s bass guitar, and energy in the guitars. I know Oceanic is a favorite among fans, and I think this remaster will bring a new appreciation even to those who have heard it many times.”
Oceanic was remastered by Mika Jussila with artwork revisions by Aaron Turner, and hits the stores November 3rd via Ipecac.
ISIS released their final studio album, Wavering Radiant, in 2009.
Oceanic track listing:
1. The Beginning and the End2. The Other3. False Light4. Carry5. –6. Maritime7. Weight8. From Sinking9. Hym
― StanM, Tuesday, 21 October 2014 19:19 (nine years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/ipecacrecordings/isis-the-beginning-and-the-end_remastered
― StanM, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 19:27 (nine years ago) link
Out on Nov 4th but it's awfully quiet everywhere - is this still coming out?
― StanM, Saturday, 1 November 2014 17:34 (nine years ago) link
When they dropped Panoptican earlier this year I didn't know until I saw it in the record store.
― afroslack, Monday, 3 November 2014 04:33 (nine years ago) link
I've listened to In the Absence of Truth a couple times lately. Their records are pretty well recorded, but I would be curious to hear the difference in the new masters.
― earlnash, Monday, 3 November 2014 05:43 (nine years ago) link
I had an Isis T shirt until very recently
It was always a rather ugly piece , with a big jellyfish adorned across the front.
I finally binned it due to events in the middle east!
I was pretty with Oceanic, when I first heard it. From memory, they were pushing boundaries whilst retain a sense of melody.
Again, from memory, I saw them in Leeds with Keelhaul. Isis were good enough for a middle aged man to buy a T shirt, but I preferred Keelhaul
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Monday, 3 November 2014 09:27 (nine years ago) link
IMHO, it's the same as the Japanese remaster that came out in 2010 (as was last year's Panopticon) except for Hym, that sounds slightly different.
― StanM, Sunday, 9 November 2014 15:54 (nine years ago) link
Celestial turned 20 less than a couple of weeks ago.
― pomenitul, Monday, 27 July 2020 15:24 (three years ago) link
wow it's been 20 years since aaron turner pre-invented cultural appropriation
― the quar on drugs (Simon H.), Monday, 27 July 2020 15:30 (three years ago) link
idgi but lol.
― pomenitul, Monday, 27 July 2020 15:31 (three years ago) link
Oh nm. lol x2.
― pomenitul, Monday, 27 July 2020 15:32 (three years ago) link
The two Old Man Gloom albums from this year are superb.
― Oor Neechy, Monday, 27 July 2020 18:34 (three years ago) link
I saw Isis at the very beginning (99/00, opening for Botch) and very end (their final NYC gig, with the Melvins) of their run. I wrote up that final NYC show for the Voice. I used to like Celestial and Oceanic the best out of their catalog, and Panopticon the least; that was the only one of their albums that I found genuinely boring. But these days I like the last two, In the Absence of Truth and Wavering Radiant, the best, because they sound like songs rather than endlessly cycling slow riffs.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, 27 July 2020 18:44 (three years ago) link
I wrote about the 20th anniversary of Oceanic for Stereogum.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Thursday, 15 September 2022 18:21 (one year ago) link
I liked reading that.
― StanM, Thursday, 15 September 2022 18:41 (one year ago) link
nice piece. i went to their release show for oceanic in cambridge at a tiny club, i think 27 opened that show. you could certainly tell they needed to be playing bigger places and were on their way to doing so.
― call all destroyer, Thursday, 15 September 2022 18:48 (one year ago) link
ta for the reminder that i picked up the 2cd remix set last year.need to dig it out and give it some time.
― mark e, Thursday, 15 September 2022 18:49 (one year ago) link