Isis - Live 5.0
Band Origin: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Genre: Ambient / Post Metal / Sludge Metal
Label: Self-released
Running Time: 67 minutes
Release Date: December 8, 2009
Best Part: 0:00 - End
Favorite Tracks: Weight, Carry, From Sinking
Grade: 4.5
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Live 5.0 in 20 words or less:
The fifth and final live album by Isis, playing one of their best works (Oceanic) in its entirety.
The Band:
Isis was (yes, was - unfortunately) a five member post metal band playing out of Boston who helped refine the element of creating truly unique and great sounding, heavy-set, lengthy songs that are in constant evolution. Isis combines elements of ambient, progressive and sludge metal into their post metal tone, and built off of work inspired by the likes of Neurosis and Godflesh to create some of the best metal in its class from 1997 to 2010. Over the years Isis has also released five live albums, taken from on-tour recordings and have collaborated with a number of artists including The Melvins, Justin Chancellor and Adam Jones of Tool, and Pig Destroyer where they covered Streetcleaner by Godflesh. The members of Isis are also part of a number of great side projects including Red Sparowes and Old Man Gloom.
Isis' full-length releases include: Celestial (2000), Oceanic (2002), Panopticon (2004), In the Absence of Truth (2006), and Wavering Radiant (2009)
Jay's Take on Live 5.0:
Live 5.0, despite being released in 2009, was actually recorded at a show performed in London in 2006. It's only one of two live recording with professional sound quality, the other being Live 2.0 - all other recording were pieced together from bootleg recordings. And it is also the only live recording of an entire release, the band having been asked to perform their LP Oceanic in its entirety. The sound quality on this recording is phenomenal, adding even more emphasis to power and the heavy, low tone of the record, but also it's more subtle ambient moments. If you've never listened to Oceanic before you may think the band uses the small interludes in between songs to good effectiveness, but it should be noted that those are all part of the record to begin with - an integral part of Isis' core sound. Simply put, Isis does not miss a beat on this recording and the end result is pure magic. It's unfortunate that the band decided to call it quits in 2010, stating that they'd done all they had hoped to do and more. While they surely have plenty of great music to put forward with other projects, another point of admiration I've gained for this group comes from the fact that they would rather go out on a high note, with dignity, than risk pushing Isis beyond its limits. Although more synonymous with post metal, Isis will forever remain one of my favorite sludge metal bands alongside Mastodon and Baroness.
Sample of the Day:
Couldn't find any samples online from the actual recording for you fine folks, but here's the opening track straight off of Oceanic.
- J
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