6385 replies to this topic

[swede]

I don't know how many of you will agree, but I think this is as good as Swedish melodic death ever got. Yeah, better than Slaughter the Soul. At the Gates brought the riffs, but IF mastered the melodies like no other band.

i agree whole-heartedly....marked my introduction to the band..was playing on the speakers at NONE OF THE ABOVE RECORDS in LI, while i was shopping for metal/hardcore records....
fucking blew me away...picked it up immediately and loved it...
"ORDINARY STORY" and "COLONY" were highlights for me.


went back for their older stuff and found it slightly too drawn out...Colony sounded so raw and the vocal quite harsh...definitely less-polished and more powerful than their subsequent releases...

IF opened the door to my love for Dark Tranq, Katatonia, Opeth, Sentenced and the like, so they will always be dear to me.

[Heretix]

Sask, you've given me hope for the new Isis. Thank you so much. I wasn't sure how to feel.

In The Absence of Truth was my first Isis album and I really enjoyed it, it was like if all the members of Tool were heroin addicts and forgot how to play their instruments competently; i.e. they could only write slow, deliberate riffs and play those. I loved it. But then I heard Oceanic (which, also, was my very first metal album with the "screamy" vocals ahaha!) and it seemed, just, well, better. It was gutsier and ballsier and just amazing.

Then I heard Celestial and I was completely blown away by the utter power and ferocity of this music, it was just like ridiculous how heavy it was (for me, anyway). I enjoyed the early EPs even if they were less gigantic sounding and a bit more thrashy. Panopticon really sealed the deal for me, it combined the heaviness of Celestial with the maturity and atmosphere of Oceanic... intense stuff. After all this ITAOT just kinda seemed flat and tepid. And that's the story of my life.

Long story short, Isis is kinda important to me. And now I'm eagerly anticipating the new one, even if the cover art is a bit too close to City of Echoes (another flat, tepid album following an amazing, massive one) for comfort..

[Backslash M Forwardslash]

Just got the new Irepress in the mail today, so yes, Backslash, I'm definitely going to give this a listen as soon as I can manage.

Ha ha. I feel like I've been nagging. I should cut that out ;o)

It's pretty good. I will say, there is not a lot of growth from the previous album. If you liked the last album, you'll like this one. If not, I wouldn't even bother. There were a couple songs that showed promise if they ever decide to add vocals on a consistent basis, but the actual use of vocals is sporadic at best.

[James D]

Sask, you've given me hope for the new Isis. Thank you so much. I wasn't sure how to feel.

In The Absence of Truth was my first Isis album and I really enjoyed it, it was like if all the members of Tool were heroin addicts and forgot how to play their instruments competently; i.e. they could only write slow, deliberate riffs and play those. I loved it. But then I heard Oceanic (which, also, was my very first metal album with the "screamy" vocals ahaha!) and it seemed, just, well, better. It was gutsier and ballsier and just amazing.

Then I heard Celestial and I was completely blown away by the utter power and ferocity of this music, it was just like ridiculous how heavy it was (for me, anyway). I enjoyed the early EPs even if they were less gigantic sounding and a bit more thrashy. Panopticon really sealed the deal for me, it combined the heaviness of Celestial with the maturity and atmosphere of Oceanic... intense stuff. After all this ITAOT just kinda seemed flat and tepid. And that's the story of my life.

Long story short, Isis is kinda important to me. And now I'm eagerly anticipating the new one, even if the cover art is a bit too close to City of Echoes (another flat, tepid album following an amazing, massive one) for comfort..

Brilliant.

Together, with the help of Helmet, we can take down Throughsliver once and for all.

[Saskadelphia]

Then I heard Celestial and I was completely blown away by the utter power and ferocity of this music, it was just like ridiculous how heavy it was (for me, anyway). I enjoyed the early EPs even if they were less gigantic sounding and a bit more thrashy. Panopticon really sealed the deal for me, it combined the heaviness of Celestial with the maturity and atmosphere of Oceanic... intense stuff. After all this ITAOT just kinda seemed flat and tepid. And that's the story of my life.

I have to give ITAOT another listen (it's been a while), but I'm positive the new one is a significant improvement. But I guess it all depends on whether the listener is willing to accept the changes the band has made.

It's pretty good. I will say, there is not a lot of growth from the previous album. If you liked the last album, you'll like this one. If not, I wouldn't even bother. There were a couple songs that showed promise if they ever decide to add vocals on a consistent basis, but the actual use of vocals is sporadic at best.

I'm really liking it. And I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to instru-metal. The electronic touches are very cool, and while some of the musical choices seem arbitrary (there are a couple of moments that really throw you for a loop, like the handclaps on the first track), this entire, nonlinear, excerpts-from-a-long-jam-session thing meshes very well.

[Vivian Darkbloom]

This has finally been re-issued (I guess it was last year, but I hadn't heard about it). Anyhow, it's a really underappreciated part of the Diamond Head and NWOBHM legacy, not so much thrash as a kind of late-UFO, Zeppelin, early Whitesnake hard rock record. And it will kick your ass straight to the curb if you're into that kind of stuff- great ostenato vocals, really clean duelling guitars. The re-issue features loads of previously unreleased B-Sides from the period, as well as a long interview with founders Sean Harris and Colin Kimberly. Recommended.

Also- I need to expand my Gojira horizons. Does anyone have From Mars to Sirius?

[James D]

I have it. If I get a chance to upload it over the next cpl of days i will

[throughsilver]

I heard Celestial and I was completely blown away by the utter power and ferocity of this music, it was just like ridiculous how heavy it was (for me, anyway).

You hadn't heard Times of Grace by this point, right?

Together, with the help of Helmet, we can take down Throughsliver once and for all.

Fat fucking chance.

[Heretix]

I heard Celestial and I was completely blown away by the utter power and ferocity of this music, it was just like ridiculous how heavy it was (for me, anyway).

You hadn't heard Times of Grace by this point, right?

I hadn't heard much metal at that point aside from the obvious mainstream stuff like 80s thrash, Tool, Sabbath, etc.. In fact I don't even know how I got so into "heavy music" -- I mean it doesn't dominate my listening like some people here (i.e. a lot of people ITT), but aside from Isis being one of the very first bands, I don't know what my tipping off point was, really. I can't fill in the gap between Oceanic and Des Mysteriis, sorta. I don't know what suddenly increased my tolerance for the once-insufferable vocals.. And I'm still a relative newbie, my metal knowledge is limited only to the most most recent stuff and a random assortment of "classics." That stylus article a while back, Into The Void, really helped me discover quite a few bands, not to mention this thread. In fact the SOMB overall has greatly expanded my taste, especially thanks to Sask, Bruegel, TS, Paves...and hell, maybe even Simakos, even if I wouldn't like to admit it

[Saskadelphia]

This has finally been re-issued (I guess it was last year, but I hadn't heard about it). Anyhow, it's a really underappreciated part of the Diamond Head and NWOBHM legacy, not so much thrash as a kind of late-UFO, Zeppelin, early Whitesnake hard rock record. And it will kick your ass straight to the curb if you're into that kind of stuff- great ostenato vocals, really clean duelling guitars. The re-issue features loads of previously unreleased B-Sides from the period, as well as a long interview with founders Sean Harris and Colin Kimberly. Recommended.

I have a particular fondness for Borrowed Time. It's nowhere near as defining as Lightning to the Nations, and to be honest it was probably the worst way Diamond Head could follow up that album, but I've loved it for a good 26 years, and think it's aged rather gracefully. Not a weak track on it, and I fully agree, they pull off the UFO thing very nicely. I was thrilled to have the chance to plug this album in Metal Edge's Forgotten Classics feature last year. I have to track this reissue down, all I have is a very badly deteriorated casette!

Also- I need to expand my Gojira horizons. Does anyone have From Mars to Sirius?

It's a good one. I actually think the new album is better, but no question, FMTS was their big breakthrough.

[Saskadelphia]

I thought I put in a proper plug for Saros back in December, but it looks like I didn't. So better late than never.



Progressive Bay Area black metal with a phrnomenal pedigree, featuring members of Amber Asylum and Weakling, and it doesn't disappoint in the least, a nice combination of raw underground USBM with more expansive, melodic passages, where singer Leila starts to channel Bilinda Butcher from time to time. Not quite up there with the new Cobalt, but like them and fellow Profound Lore signees Altar of Plagues, it's smart, classy black metal that's not afraid to try new things. Plus the artwork and layout is gorgeous, some of my favourite artwork PL has put out to date. It's available only at Profound Lore for the time being (out right now), so if you're into Ludicra, Wolves in the Throne Room, or Agalloch, you'll definitely like this one.

http://www.myspace.com/saros

[Backslash M Forwardslash]

Goin' to see YOB on Saturday!

[Vivian Darkbloom]

I picked up From Mars to Sirius from the blogosphere last night and must say it's a little underwhelming in light of The Way of All Flesh, which seems to me a much more mature, rich and fully realized album.

[Saskadelphia]

I picked up From Mars to Sirius from the blogosphere last night and must say it's a little underwhelming in light of The Way of All Flesh, which seems to me a much more mature, rich and fully realized album.

Yeah, that's exactly how I see it. Plus the production on the new one is massive.

I'm still on my early In Flames kick. I've always loved Clayman. A bit of a transition album preceding the much more polarizing Reroute to Remain, but the streamlined sound (like on Colony, the production is immaculate), crunchy riffs, and wicked hooks are undeniable. I'm glad they took this turn, on Colony they took the Gothenburg sound about as far as would go.

[velocity]

I'm only familiar w/ Come Clarity. Got some explorin' to do. As always.

In the midst of my first listen to Evisceration Plague. The Bleeding was the last of theirs I spent time with...can't say that I miss its Evil Brainy Smurf vocals. This one's definitely more solid & cohesive.

[Saskadelphia]

In the midst of my first listen to Evisceration Plague. The Bleeding was the last of theirs I spent time with...can't say that I miss its Evil Brainy Smurf vocals. This one's definitely more solid & cohesive.

The more I hear it, the more I'm convinced it's one of the best records they've ever made. I have yet to watch the making-of DVD...it's made by the same folks who made the three hour documentary on Centuries of Torment, so it's bound to be good.

And Corpsegrinder is so much better a vocalist than Barnes, it's ridiculous.

[helmet52]

The new Khanate record is so incredible. Now they're gone. One of my top 10 bands ever.

[Soundscape]

I thought I put in a proper plug for Saros back in December, but it looks like I didn't. So better late than never.



Progressive Bay Area black metal with a phrnomenal pedigree, featuring members of Amber Asylum and Weakling, and it doesn't disappoint in the least, a nice combination of raw underground USBM with more expansive, melodic passages, where singer Leila starts to channel Bilinda Butcher from time to time. Not quite up there with the new Cobalt, but like them and fellow Profound Lore signees Altar of Plagues, it's smart, classy black metal that's not afraid to try new things. Plus the artwork and layout is gorgeous, some of my favourite artwork PL has put out to date. It's available only at Profound Lore for the time being (out right now), so if you're into Ludicra, Wolves in the Throne Room, or Agalloch, you'll definitely like this one.

http://www.myspace.com/saros

not bad.

[Saskadelphia]

Meanwhile, the new Blut Aus Nord album is killer. Love it.

[velocity]

I picked up From Mars to Sirius from the blogosphere last night and must say it's a little underwhelming in light of The Way of All Flesh, which seems to me a much more mature, rich and fully realized album.

You're right about TWOAF, but give FM2S a few more listens. It's kind of a grower, and has 2-3 of really outstanding tracks.

The more I hear it, the more I'm convinced it's one of the best records they've ever made. I have yet to watch the making-of DVD...it's made by the same folks who made the three hour documentary on Centuries of Torment, so it's bound to be good.

And Corpsegrinder is so much better a vocalist than Barnes, it's ridiculous.

I'm fairly addicted to it now. No skippable tracks.