Isis Oceanic & Celestial (RFI)

Me, I think they're perfect background music for reading and falling asleep and stuff. Definitely not the good-for-you spinach and liver that Orthrelm is. (Which isn't to say I don't think the latter's goofy novelty noize is cute.) But I have trouble telling Isis's songs apart. And next time I go see them play live, I'm bringing a CHAIR.

p.s., re art-metal: I didn't read the thread, though maybe I will eventually. I just want to say that almost ALL metal is art-metal. (I mean, I guess Motorhead and AC/DC aren't. But Zeppelin sure was.)

From the couple of reviews I have found, their other couple of eps and records are quite a bit different than "Oceanic". Anyone heard those records?

Another record that I am curious about is Sleep's "Jerusalem". There is an interview with Billy Anderson who recorded it in the last Tape Op magazine and it led me to check some reviews and wonder what it sounds like.

Wait, someone recommended them to me as a death metal band I'd like because I like Neurosis and hardcore and now they're being compared to two indie rock bands I can't fucking stand. What's the deal? Does this just apply to this particular album?

I must hear this new Opeth. This has nothing to do with the fact I'm a mondo huge Porcupine Tree/No-Man freak, of course.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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

http://rock-a-rolla.com/main/?p=6044
https://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 End
2. The Other
3. False Light
4. Carry
5. –
6. Maritime
7. Weight
8. From Sinking
9. Hym

https://soundcloud.com/ipecacrecordings/isis-the-beginning-and-the-end_remastered

Out on Nov 4th but it's awfully quiet everywhere - is this still coming out?

When they dropped Panoptican earlier this year I didn't know until I saw it in the record store.

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.

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

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.

Celestial turned 20 less than a couple of weeks ago.

wow it's been 20 years since aaron turner pre-invented cultural appropriation

idgi but lol.

Oh nm. lol x2.

The two Old Man Gloom albums from this year are superb.

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.

I wrote about the 20th anniversary of Oceanic for Stereogum.

I liked reading that.

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.

ta for the reminder that i picked up the 2cd remix set last year.
need to dig it out and give it some time.