Isis

Sludge

There are at least eight artists that have used the name Isis: 1. Isis was a Los Angeles, CA based band that started in Boston, MA in 1997. They borrowed from and helped to evolve a sound pioneered by the likes of Neurosis and Godflesh, creating heavy music consisting primarily of lengthy songs that focus on repetition and evolution of structure and texture. As such, their music encompasses a considerable range of genres. Some of these include sludge metal, doom metal, progressive metal, post-hardcore and post-metal; the band is considered a pioneer of the latter sub-genre. Their origins can be traced back to raw sludge not too far off from dissonant metalcore as evidenced by their early EPs. Later Isis records saw them increasing the use of post-rock influences and incorporating several Tool-isms into their overall sound, namely bass lines very similar in nature to Tool, the Tool snare sound present in their records ever since Ænima and guitar melodies/riffing derived from Tool's unique progressive metal style. Aaron Harris is noted for playing his drumkit without snares, which is what allowed him to replicate the Tool sound. He is currently an inactive drummer. The band released their last and most recent album, Wavering Radiant, on May 5, 2009. Aaron Turner has expressed he wishes Panopticon had been the band's last album as he did not like the direction Isis was taking. Several sessions of experimentation in Boston, MA led friends Aaron Turner (guitar/vocals, also the...