Oh No Its Greg
RSSBest of 09: Albums of the Year
09. ISIS - WAVERING RADIANT
Isis’ 2006 album In The Absence of Truth was not a very well recieved departure from their usual melodic yet brutal style of post-metal. Granted, it was still highly acclaimed by the critics but the fans tended to shun it. They saw the bands ever-clearer move into the softer side of music as a middle finger to the community that raised them to the top of the thinking mans metal pile.
Aaron Turner and co moved away from long time producer Matt Bayles and found the same heavyness that made arguably their greatest work, Oceanic. Like the aforementioned, Wavering Radiant knows exactly when to turn on the fireworks and at what altitude. The bands crescendos and climaxes have never felt this purposefull and while the band have regained that explosive side that made them famous on Oceanic they have also learnt from their more recent subtle offerings.
Wavering Radiant is an album of dual ideals, beauty and dirt, melody and sludge asking the listener to draw their own storyline. Much like Isis’ ever expanding discography, this album cant be settled into one category. The often changing patterns and textures are intricately crafted together offering up something wholly original even for a fan of a band so intent on innovation of sound.
