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| Isis - In The Absence Of Truth | Isis - In The Absence Of Truth
Ipacac Recordings
Release Date- October 31, 2006
The new album by Isis will take a little while to fully absorb. Much like anything, the more time you spend with it, the more you will get out of it. Not because it's dense or extremely complex, but because with each successive listen you will be able to notice a slight nuance or guitar line that you didn’t hear before. This. in turn, will make the album that much more rewarding in the end. Not an album to listen to a track or two, In The Absence Of Truth will not only require complete attention, it will demand that the listener be drawn into the mood portrayed by Isis.
From the feedback that starts off the album to the moment that the last note fades out, In The Absence Of Truth is a journey of epic proportions, touching upon every sonic level you can conceive. Though the songs are long (averaging about 7 minutes each), they are never without a reason and always lead to a definitive climax. Often times the buildup to this crescendo is so subtle, maybe adding an additional note to an arpeggio or layering another guitar, that you don’t have time to prepare yourself for the distorted onslaught that follows. These transitions are some of the best in instrumental music, so good that you can barely tell that the climax is a different part of the song, rather it seems more like a harder evolution of what proceeded it. Examples of this are scattered all over the album, most notably in the opening track “Wrists Of Kings” and “Dulcinea”, which features a truly brutal alternate picked guitar pinnacle offset by Aaron Harris’ tribal tom-tom infused drumbeat. “Firdous E. Bareen” sounds almost orchestral with pulsing electronic beats swirling behind the band as they travel their way through one of the softer, more beautiful moments on the album, in fact, multiple times during my listens, I drew comparisons to Godspeed You Black Emperor! due to the grand scale of song writing, only more in the realm of instrumental metal. Another high point is the Tool-like “Not In Rivers, But In Drops”, which sees each member of the band working together like a giant rhythm section in accordance with a reverb and delay saturated bass line only to collide head first with Isis mastermind Aaron Turner’s guttural growl towards the end of the track in what is surely a pinnacle moment on the record.
Turner utilizes his clean vocals much more on this album than on past Isis releases with incredibly positive results. His voice sways with the dynamics of the music and acts as an accent, instead of being in the spotlight, to add to the mood. His scream comes out only when the song demands it and when the band turns up the volume. In Isis, vocals take a backseat to the music, and with songs this intriguing, that’s fine by me. His distorted croon has almost a Middle Eastern influence on tracks like “1000 Shards”, where each syllable of every word is sustained to produce maximum impact on the atmosphere of the piece.
Isis’ Oceanic is one of my favorite releases of all time and although this effort does not surpass it, it definitely comes close. In The Absence Of Truth is another step distancing the band from any categorical genre. This is not a metal album. This is not a hardcore album. This is something different and something that Isis is proud to pave the way for. I strongly believe that I havn’t even felt the full impact of this album yet after repeated spins and analysis as I am still finding something new and amazing every minute I listen. This is not a record to give a quick listen to, this needs the test of time to fully sink in. But if you are willing to take that time, In The Absence Of Truth will be more than worth the wait.
For Fans Of: Tool, Pelican, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Red Sparowes
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sgnl05
Tracklisting
1. Wrists Of Kings
2. Not In Rivers, But In Drops
3. Dulcinea
4. Over Root And Thorn
5. 1000 Shards
6. All Out Of Time, All Into Space
7. Holy Tears
8. Firdous E. Bareen
9. Garden Of Light |
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Displaying posts 1 - 15 of 19. |
11:51 PM on 11/05/06 | Good Review, I like this album. | | |
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12:11 AM on 11/06/06 | I prefer Panopticon in all honesty, I didn't quite click with this as much. However it's ISIS so like a Converge CD you know it's always going to be awesome. | | |
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07:58 AM on 11/06/06 | Originally Posted by youcomebeforeyo I prefer Panopticon in all honesty, I didn't quite click with this as much. However it's ISIS so like a Converge CD you know it's always going to be awesome. |
I have to say I disagree with the Panopticon comment. I don't know why, but this just seems like a much tighter cohesive album, wheras Panopticon had a lot of good songs. But I agree with Isis being like Converge. Maybe it's the Boston hardcore connection, but I totally think of Isis and Converge in the same league in that all of their releases are good and things I look forward to. | | |
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09:26 AM on 11/06/06 | This is the worst ISIS record ive heard. A few good songs, but easily my dissapointment of the year. | | |
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10:03 AM on 11/06/06 | its hard to choose between Oceanic and Panopticon for me.
i've yet to hear this but it will be my next puchase.
great review. | | |
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11:55 AM on 11/06/06 | Originally Posted by last lightThis is the worst ISIS record ive heard. A few good songs, but easily my dissapointment of the year. |
I can see how you might not like it as much seeing as it is kind of different from past releases. I just think that it is a welcome change, seeing the songs live really helps them sink in. I saw Isis in Boston last spring and they played a few of the songs that ended up on this album and they are ridiculous live. | | |
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03:22 PM on 11/06/06 | Fuck yeah, a good writer that likes good fucking music WORD. | | |
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03:29 PM on 11/06/06 | you sold me, this definately sounds like it's worth a listen. very nice review. | | |
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03:53 PM on 11/06/06 | Originally Posted by Tom GoodI can see how you might not like it as much seeing as it is kind of different from past releases. I just think that it is a welcome change, seeing the songs live really helps them sink in. I saw Isis in Boston last spring and they played a few of the songs that ended up on this album and they are ridiculous live. |
I saw them last spring also, i just dont like the direction they went at all. It sounds too much like a really great Tool record and not a really great ISIS record. They more than made up for this with Isis and Aereogramme-Into The Fishtank 14, Mustard Gas and Roses, the live 4 album, and the DVD...so whatever. | | |
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04:09 PM on 11/06/06 | Originally Posted by last lightI saw them last spring also, i just dont like the direction they went at all. It sounds too much like a really great Tool record and not a really great ISIS record. They more than made up for this with Isis and Aereogramme-Into The Fishtank 14, Mustard Gas and Roses, the live 4 album, and the DVD...so whatever. |
Yeah, I know what you mean how it sounds like a great Tool album, but, I'm a huge fan of Tool's work so I welcome the change. | | |
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04:15 PM on 11/06/06 | this is much better than panopticon. oceanic is their undisputed best. | | |
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