"Hall of the Dead" opens Isis' fifth album, Wavering Radiant, with a slow, ominous sound as if signaling the start of a science fiction/horror movie, before the band kicks in forcefully. "Threshold of Transformation" concludes the disc with the same strategy in reverse, as the band's stately hard rock suddenly gives way to a quieter, moody theme after more than nine minutes. And right in the middle of the album comes the becalmed under-two-minute title track, prefaced by more ambient music at the end of the first ten minutes of "Hand of the Host." Thus there is a structure to Wavering Radiant, which is hardly a typical heavy metal album, even if it has many of the trappings of one. The raging guitars of Aaron Turner and Michael Gallagher are certainly typical of the style, as is the locked-in rhythm section of bassist Jeff Caxide and drummer Aaron Harris, while Turner alternates between normal singing and the sort of heavy metal growl that sounds like a wounded bear. (The vocals are mixed a notch or two below what would be required for there to be a chance of comprehending their meaning, another familiar metal procedure.) But a big difference is provided by keyboardist Clifford Meyer, who provides texture, filling up the overall sound and also adding ethereal touches that sometimes make Isis reminiscent of Pink Floyd, especially as the lengthy tracks stretch on into their seventh and eighth minutes. Wavering Radiant works as a single piece of music rather than a series of songs, and it is cohesively played by an ensemble that is more interested in the dark majesty of metal than its potential for expressing anger.
Many in the mainstream feel the need to call Isis post-metal. This is a term that I never understood because it insinuates that those that are labeled “post-metal” are no longer actually metal. Does this sound like a cop out to anyone else? To me this sounds like fans of Isis not wanting to be [...]
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I am not a huge fan of this band, but this video is fucking amazing. It reminds me of the creepy vibes from Tool videos.
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Post Metal geniuses Isis have been going for twelve years now and yet still, they seem intent on bringing us the very boldest and highest of quality music. No lulls in imagination over here good sir! The collective are set to release their latest studio album Wavering Radiant on May 4th of this year under Conspiracy Records which marks their fifth studio release thus far.
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Many in the mainstream feel the need to call Isis post-metal. This is a term that I never understood because it insinuates that those that are labeled “post-metal” are no longer actually metal. Does this sound like a cop out to anyone else? To me this sounds like fans of Isis not wanting to be [...]
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L.A. stalwarts Isis are set to release their most cohesive and challenging work yet with Wavering Radiant, due out May 5th on Ipecac Recordings.Having been on the forefront of the progressive metal scene for over a decade now, the five-piece have managed to pump out landmark records like a well-oiled machine, each one more unique [...]
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New video for “20 minutes/ 40 Years” from the album “Wavering Radiant” by ISIS. Video directed by Matthew Santoro
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Above you will find a making of video that the post-metal titans that go by the name ISIS have released unto the wilderness, for it is an ambient reflection of the smooth melodies and sheer awesomeness the band's upcoming CD, Wavering Radiant emotes. On the reals though, we love this band! Very chill. Tour dates [...]
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i love spinner.com's "full cd listening party". this week they've posted isis's wavering radiant album. love the music. not a fan of the screaming lyrics that i cant understand. nor find easily online apparently... but awesome, awesome music here. i'm kinda sad that i never heard them before. of all the albums they've got up this week it is my favorite so far. not conor oberst, not st. v...
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I still can’t decide what I think about Isis’ latest effort Wavering Radiant. On one hand, the Joe Baressi-produced effort is easily my favorite Isis release to date; the production is bigger, the songs more concise, the album less rambling. On the other hand, I’m not sure I’ll ever dig this band as much as [...]
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Hall of the Dead |
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| 2 Ghost Key |
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| 3 Hand of the Host |
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| 4 Wavering Radiant |
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| 5 Stone to Wake a Serpent |
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| 6 20 Minutes/40 Years |
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| 7 Threshold of Transformation |
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 "Wavering Radiant")
