Search - Isis :: Oceanic

This album truly is an ocean

Jeremy Brackeen | Cameron, WI United States | 04/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got Isis's 2002 release "Oceanic" along with their 2004 follow up "Panopticon" [...] in January, and I fell in love with both albums, and I also became a fan of Isis instantly. "Oceanic" which I'am reviewing right now, is just an incredible, majestic, heavy yet atmospheric journey full of heavy monumental riffs, sparse vocals, and ambient, majestic melodic passages that will not only envelop and embrace your mind, but carry you away into a vast, unknown world of UNlimited imagination as well. If there was ever a soundtrack to an ocean, then "Oceanic" is definately that album. The more I listen to this album, the more I love it, in fact it's already one of my favorite albums in my collection now. One minute this album can be crushingly heavy and the next minute it can be peaceful, relaxing and melodic. Whenever I'm listening to this album, or any Isis album for that matter, I like to imagine myself going for a swim in the ocean or going for a nice long walk on a tropical beach. Aaron Turner's vocals are just great and they fit just perfectly with the band's sound. His growls and screams are to me very reminescent of Troy Sanders (Mastodon), and he also has a nice clean singing voice as well. The guitar riffs are just massive, crushing, crippling and monumental. These guys know when to churn of heavy riffs, and they also know when to turn it down a notch with calm, relaxing melodic parts as well. The bass just ripples and pulsates throughout the album with soothing and hypnotic perfection. The drumming is just absolutely powerful and infectious throughout.



"The Beginning and the End" is a great opener and amony one of my favorites on this album that features catchy striking guitar riffs and harsh vocals from Aaron and some cleaner instrumental parts as well. My favorite song on here no doubt has to be track three "False Light". It starts out with heavy, hard-driving riffs, vicious howling vocals and powerful drum beats. Then around the 3 minute mark, the song segues into a nice mellow instrumental passage with gentle guitar parts and soothing basslines untile at the 6 minute mark when the heaviness comes back into play with a brutal conclusion you'll never forget. Track four "Carry" is another favorite on here that starts off with a nice, slow, relaxing instrumental part (which includes some clean, docile echoing guitar parts, smooth sailing bass and a nice calm drum beat) until halfway through when Aaron's torturing howls come into play followed by impenetrable walls of heavier guitar riffs. Track six "Maritime" is a nice, relaxing 3 minute instrumental break that is highlighted by peaceful psychadelic guitarwork and smooth basslines, while track seven "Weight" is an absolute hypnotic and suspensful 10 minute epic that is highlighted by distant, crashing drum beats that become increasingly loud and heavy, droning keyboards and haunting but lovely, enchanting female vocals. Track nine "Hym" is a great addicting album closer and another favorite of mine that starts off with a wall of collapsing riffs and some soaring clean vocals from Aaron. Please read on for my song ratings.

Jeremy's song ratings:

1. The Beginning and the End (8:01) - 5/5

2. The Other (7:14) - 5/5

3. False Light (7:42) - 5/5

4. Carry (6:46) - 5/5

5. - (2:05) - 4/5

6. Maritime (3:03) - 5/5

7. Weight (10:46) - 5/5

8. From Sinking (8:24) - 5/5

9. Hym (9:13) - 5/5



Overall, this album is an absolute must-have for fans of creative bands such as Meshuggah, Mastodon, Neurosis, Pelican, Red Sparowes, Tool, or even Pink Floyd for that matter. But I must warn you, that if you're looking for an album that features the standared verses/chrouses, you won't have any luck with this album, but like I said before, if you're an open minded metalhead who's into some great creative rock/metal like myself, then by all means, this album is yours. Enjoy!!"