Isis - Wavering Radiant
Rating
RIYL
Old Man GloomPelican
Nuerosis
Red Sparowes
Release Date
05/05/2009
Label
IpecacTracklist
1. Hall of the Dead2. Ghost Key
3. Hand of the Host
4. Wavering Radiant
5. Stone to Wake A Serpent
6. 20 Minutes / 40 Years
7. Threshold of Transformation
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When writing a review, I usually like to start off by giving a brief history lesson on the band that wrote the material I’m set to assess. I’ll even try to add some witty statements and make it interesting for everyone to read so that it doesn't just seem extraneous to the rest of the review. However, this time around, I’m pretty sure that the masters behind the album I have set to pick apart need no introduction, but I’ll throw some facts your way just in case you have been living under a rock for the past decade.
Isis are known for their atmospheric, heavy-metal songwriting, comprised in lengthy songs that focus on repetition and evolution of structure. Since they put so much of the spotlight on the progression of the arrangement in their pieces of music, they have been commonly referred to as avant-garde metal. While concentrating extensively on the formula of their material, they are always pushing the limits, breaking boundaries, and adding incredible depth that is unmatched by their peers. Wavering Radiant is the latest canvas these artists have exhibited their talent on as well as being their fifth full-length album.
Isis have set a certain ambiance for our listening pleasure on Wavering Radiant, providing more background texture than they have on any of their previous albums. Establishing this fifty-five minute earthy endeavor is “Hall of the Dead”, which kicks off with a stammering guitar riff before grooving right into heavy sludge sounds and Aaron Turner’s snarling vocals. The amount of depth in this song blows me away. At about four minutes into the track, up until the conclusion of the song, Isis display some of the most textured music I have ever had the pleasure of letting enter my ear canals, that is until I heard track six, “20 Minutes/ 40 Years”, but we’ll get to that in a bit. “Ghost Key” picks up where “Hall of the Dead” left off, but carries an atmospheric vibe throughout the entire song while having a brief outburst of sludge Tourettes.
“Stone To Wake A Serpent” demonstrates how well Isis can play catch with soft and heavy, the two sounds really exchange hands quite often. This track also hosts a lot more singing than most of the other tracks, which is first-class. Turner really displays his vocal abilities, stepping out of the seemingly shy approach he normally takes and delivering more than just the monotone vocals we are used to. However, “20 Minutes/ 40 Years” is the epic encounter on this album. This track really showcases every element Isis has historically used, everything from the vocals to the guitar work, to the drum and bass combos and each piece in-between. The composition of this song is simply amazing, and the last three minutes of this track really embody some of the most tranquil sounds I have heard on an Isis release. Also, before I jump into the conclusion of this review it should probably be noted that Tool’s Adam Jones lends his musical genius on two tracks. It's been a talking point while the album was being recorded so it deserves mention, but if you weren't told Jones was working on the album, it would be hard to really pick it out.
Honestly, this album pretty much left me speechless. These guys are evolving, and Wavering Radiant sounds like a step in the right direction. Some may say this album is too polished, others may say it’s not like their older stuff, but I say it’s beautiful. Yeah, that’s right, I said it… beautiful! Isis have managed to create an album that is not only holding true to their heavy sludge metal roots, but they are also continuing down the spacey road they set off on with In the Absence of Truth by using all sorts of sounds to carry you and your thoughts away. Wavering Radiant demands your attention, so sit down and listen to the album in its entirety. My suggestion, grab yourself some whiskey, sit your ass down on your couch, and let Isis take you on a musical journey that you will never want to leave.
--Bill Lohr
Comments
Nice review, Bill. How do you feel this album compares to albums like Oceanic or Celestial? I still find myself drawn more to those albums than anything else they've done.
Lehigh Valley, PA
Thanks Matt. Um...honestly this is one of my favorites. I have been an Isis fan for a long time thanks to some old stoner metal heads I'm friends with and I think this is their best work yet. The older albums are more "doomy" but this album is so amazing. I always liked Oceanic more than Celestial, and I still listen to both albums regularly, but this album left me speechless. It has way more depth to it than any of their other stuff.
Minnesota
I'm still trying to decide how I would rate this against their other stuff, but a preliminary ordering of how I see their albums would be, from best to worst, and only talking about full lengths:
1. Oceanic
2. In the Absence of Truth (fuck you guys, I love this album)
3. Wavering Radiant
4. Panopticon
5. Celestial
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PA
Good review, Bill.
Honestly, Panopticon might always be in my top 5 albums of all time for sentimental reasons, but this is their best work to date. Incredible album. Will be in my top 3 of the year. Band has quickly became one of my favorites. I preordered like all 4 versions of this album haha. The Japanese release has an extra song too which I can't wait for. Harris, the drummer told me it's not just a throwaway and he wishes it was on the actual cd but they had to keep it off for reasons.
Can't wait to see Isis on June 3rd at the TLA in Philly. If they play Threshold of Transformation, I may pass away.
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ARIZONA
this is their best work. a culmination of all the effort and expirementation of previous albums, this album demonstrates a maturity in songwriting and production, only hinted at before. with a pair of headphones, this is easily the most rewarding album for the listener, full of ear candy. I love the increased prescence of Cliff on this record.ISIS has once again proved their superiority over all the sound-alikes.
Ann Arbor, MI
this is definately one of my favorite cds of this year so far
DETH ROK!!!!
San Jose, CA
Great review.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
Canada
It's not often you can say this about an album and have it still be a compliment, but I think this is ISIS', not worst but least good album yet, and it's still a great album.
I like all their other full lengths better, but it's so close... this one has it's place, it's just at the bottom of the list for me.
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www.last.fm/user/adamemanon
California
just can't get into this band for the life of me. but i know they're a solid band so nothing bad to say about them. just don't get the music.
I really don't get all the hype on this thread about this album, i'd say in comparison to pretty much all other Isis albums this is by far the worst one. It sounds really rushed and very unlike Isis at all i think. Yes they are still awesome at keeping an atmospheric approach to their sound but this one sounds really churchy and almost happy in a sense. That is not the Isis that i know and love and therefore must say that this album, while not bad, is not at all their best work, not even close.
It's like trying to explain Final Fantasy 8 to a lemon.
Fishers, Indiana
I've only been a fan since In the Absence of Truth, but I can say I like this one roughly 12x more.
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Big progression forward. Then again, ITAOT was pretty bad so it's not saying much.
Milwaukee, WI
This is my disc of the year but Panopticon is still my favorite from them. It seems like that's not a well respected disc amoungst some of their fans, but I love it. I'd put this one at number 3 of Isis albums, right after Panopticon and Oceanic.
Boston, MA
Oceanic will probably always be my fav but this one is way up there. "Ghost Key" is too good for words.
Stereo Typing
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Kansas
Awesome Album
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Minnesota
I've been listening to Isis discography at work since seeing them over the weekend, and I have to agree that you've hit something here. The underlying textures and some of the structures of the songs, along with the guitar tones used at times, do give this album a much more "happy" feel. Obviously this is still sludgy, doomy, atmospheric metal, but compared to previous works there is a definite "brightness" to this release. And I like it. Love it, in fact.
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PA
I agree, Rick. ISIS have always had very depressing melodies, and almost that 'hopeless' vibe to their music. On Wavering Radiant, there are several powerfully triumphant sections, such as the climax in "Hall of the Dead", the middle section of "Hand of the Host", and obviously the ending of "Threshold of Transformation"...at least until the outro, which is incredibly somber and beautiful.
There are definitely more examples, but with that, I think the bulk of "Stone to Wake a Serpent" is eerily depressing sounding, which I also love.
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
Minnesota
The more I think about it, the more Wavering Radiant actually improves ITAOT. ITAOT hints at some of the "brightness" of Wavering Radiant but never really explores it. ITAOT is an essential transition record between their pre-ITAOT "mood" to that of Wavering Radiant. Without ITAOT, I don't know if Wavering Radiant would feel as fully realized as it does.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
PA
That is true also in the sense that Wavering Radiant is overall much better than ITOAT hahaha. I've never heard so many fans go, 'man this may not be Panopticon, but it's surely better than ITAOT.'
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)