For a band that has evolved so much over their entire career, Isis have always managed to consistently produce stunning material with every album they release. First hitting the scene as an aggressive sludge-metal act in the late 90's, the band’s increasing use of softer elements in their music has not surprisingly caused concerns that they would eventually lose their heavy roots and become too mainstream-accessible. With such monumental success arriving from the band’s 2004 release, Panopticon, many felt that Isis had finally achieved the perfect combination of hard and soft in their sound. A consensus like this made it very clear, very quickly that the band’s next release would likely indicate the fate of the rest of their career—would Isis dwindle away into another generic post-rock act, or would they stay true to their origins and continue reshape heavy music for years to come? The arrival of In the Absence of Truth proves that while great changes are definitely underway, Isis are still just as strong as they ever were.
Marking the band’s fourth full-length album, In the Absence of Truth brings a much more diverse, attractive sound to Isis’s music without sacrificing any of their old sludge-heavy goodness. The album is still well stocked with energy, but it also contains some of Isis’s most gentle material ever. Perhaps the most striking change to the band’s sound in this new album is the inclusion of almost completely clean vocals, in addition to the more typical heavy shouts and screams. A heightened emphasis is also placed on the drumming, which often includes tom-heavy beats that create a very tribal sound. With even a brief listen, it is clear that Isis’s overall musicianship has become even more sophisticated with this release, as most obviously seen in the technicality and precision of each instrument despite the band’s typical repetitious playing style. It seems as if Isis have expanded their musical horizons even further, working to the best of their abilities to create the band’s most intriguing album yet. No, Isis haven’t given up their heavy sound, but they’re showing now more than ever that sometimes a little tenderness can go a long way.
While the strength of this new album is quite assured, there are unfortunately some significant drawbacks as well. The main source of this album’s partial weakness comes from a lack of momentum and interesting change within the tracks. Tracks toward the beginning of the album like “Wrists of Kings” and “Dulcinea” are definitely the most attention-grabbing, containing initially relaxed atmospheres with heavy outbursts along the way. Many of the following songs, however, seem to take on a discomfortingly similar format and evoke a sense of repetitiveness. This causes the album to move into a sort of temporary dull period after its initially strong start, especially with the addition of “All out of Time, All into Space,” a 3-minute soundscape that otherwise would provide a nice rest for the listener if it were at all necessary. Fortunately, the album is salvaged towards the end, regaining much of its momentum and reputation with “Holy Tears” and “Garden of Light.” These tracks seem to bring the album full circle, returning to the energy of its beginnings and thankfully leaving the listener with at least somewhat of a decent pulse when all is said and done. All in all, In the Absense of Truth has its shining moments—and really great ones at that, even if it might not be as continuously captivating as Panopticon was.
Aside from its occasional sluggishness, In the Absence of Truth is nevertheless an excellent release that fits in perfectly with the logical progression of Isis’s discography. As the band gradually left behind their chaotic, extreme sound and took on more and more post-rock influences, it seems only natural that they would produce an album like this, incorporating elements like clean vocals and a more intricate playing style. As far as the progression of their sound goes, Isis have hit dead on target with In the Absence of Truth. It couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time for them, really. The overall quality of some of the songs, however, seems a bit sub-par for a band as talented as Isis, and unfortunately detracts from the experience of the album. Coming at yet another transitory period in their career, In the Absence of Truth brings suitable material to contribute to the band’s ever-present growth, but it seems that Isis need a bit more time to perfect their new-and-improved sound.
| Reviewer: Sean Butze Added: November 7th 2006 |
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