Flagship

My Isis discography is 104 songs, and it's been the heart of my listening rotation for this whole past year. As much as I hear the direct influence of bands like Neurosis and Tool on this band, I feel like Isis is diving further into the "post-something" category with every release. This band is unafraid of melody, and of space; their recent works make great introductions to experimental metal in general. Even more importantly, this band is working hard - touring with other artists, exploring side projects, and creating in the studio. They've clearly got a lot left in 'em, and I, for one, am listening.

Case in point: "In the fishtank 14," a collaborative effort between Isis and Scottish rock band Aereogramme. In the "fishtank" series, artists have 2 days in which to write, record, and mix a piece of music. For this entry, Isis and Aereogramme rocked a 3 song, 24 minute EP. It's slow without ever being boring or somnolent, and heavy without ever being overly abrasive. This is a very rhythmic record; the bass and drums shine in clarity and depth. It's a great place for new Isis listeners to catch some of the flavor.