Isis was an American post-metal band active from 1997 to 2010. They released five full-length albums, five extended plays (EPs), seven live albums, two singles, and have collaborated with artists on numerous other projects.
Isis was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in late 1997 by Aaron Turner (guitar/vocals; also the owner of Hydra Head Records), Jeff Caxide (bass guitar), Chris Mereschuk (electronics/vocals) and Aaron Harris (drums). In 1998, they released a demo and their first EP, Mosquito Control, with this lineup. The band replaced Mereschuk with Jay Randall and added former Cast Iron Hike guitarist Michael Gallagher before releasing the 1999 EP The Red Sea. Bryant Clifford Meyer of The Gersch replaced Jay Randall in late 1999, and Isis remained with this lineup until their dissolution. Isis' debut full-length, Celestial, and its sister EP, SGNL>05, were released in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
In 2002, Oceanic was released to critical acclaim, and was the subject of a series of four vinyl reinterpretations by various contemporary artists; the series was consolidated into an Ipecac Recordings release, entitled Oceanic: Remixes & Reinterpretations. Growth in stature necessitated relocation to Los Angeles in 2003. Panopticon was released in 2004, to further critical plaudits and an album of the year award from Rock Sound. It was also the band's first entry into the charts, peaking at number 47 in the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart.
Their next record, In the Absence of Truth, was released by Ipecac on October 31, 2006. This full-length charted more successfully, peaking at number six in Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart; however, critical reception was not particularly warm and the band themselves have expressed disappointment with the album. "Holy Tears" and "Not in Rivers, but in Drops" were released from the album as singles in 2008, along with a limited-edition vinyl compilation box set entitled Shades of the Swarm later in the year. Their final full-length, Wavering Radiant, was released in 2009 and marked the band's first entry in the Billboard 200, peaking at 98; it also saw international commercial exposure, seeing entry into the charts of the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway. Isis split up in June 2010, just before the release of a split EP with Melvins. Their entire back-catalogue of live releases saw digital re-release in mid-2011, and a compilation of demos and alternative versions of songs, called Temporal, was released on November 6, 2012 by Ipecac Recordings.
Albums Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positionsUS IndieUS HeatUS RockUS TasteUSUKUK RockGERNOR Celestial Released: April 3, 2000 Label: Escape Artist (EA07.0) Formats: CD, 2×LP — — — — — — — — — Oceanic Released: September 16, 2002 Label: Ipecac (IPC-032) Formats: CD, 2×LP — — — — — — — — — Panopticon Released: October 19, 2004 Label: Ipecac (IPC-057) Formats: CD, 2×LP 47 — — — — — — — — In the Absence of Truth Released: October 31, 2006 Label: Ipecac (IPC-081) Formats: CD, 2×LP 20 6 — 12 — 184 — — — Wavering Radiant Released: May 5, 2009 Label: Ipecac (IPC-113) Formats: CD, 2×LP 10 — 14 7 98 190 17 96 37 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Live albums TitleRelease details Recorded Live IReleased: March 2004 Label: Electric Human Project (EHP 0.31) Formats: CD, LPSeptember 23, 2003 The Fillmore, San Francisco, California, United States Live II Released: November 2004 Label: Troubleman Unlimited (TMU 152) Formats: CD, 2×LPMarch 19, 2003 Stockholm, Sweden Live III Released: April 2005 Label: Profound Lore (PLR 018) Formats: CD, 2×LPDecember 7, 2004 The Launchpad, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Live IV Released: May 2006 Label: Robotic Empire (Robo 079) Formats: CD, 2×LP2001–2005 Various sources Live V Released: October 2009 Label: Viva Hate (VHR018) Formats: CD, 2×LPJuly 23, 2006 KOKO, London, England Live VI Released: February 14, 2012 Label: Self-released Format: 2×LPNovember 16, 2007 Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, Oregon, United States Live VII Released: March 31, 2017 Label: Ipecac (IPC-181) Formats: 2×LP, CDFebruary 25, 2010 Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Australia
Extended plays Solo TitleRelease detailsNotes Demo 98 Released: June 1998 Label: Hydra Head (HH666-27.5) Format: CassetteDemo recording. 545 cassettes were made.Isis discography Hydra HeadIsis Demo Hydra Head The songs were later included as bonus tracks on the CD and 12" versions of The Red Sea. The Mosquito Control EP Released: October 28, 1998 Label: Escape Artist (EA03.0) Formats: CD, LPFirst official release.The Mosquito Control EP at MerchtableThe Mosquito Control EP at Bandcamp The Red Sea Released: July 1999 Label: Second Nature (SN014) Formats: CD, 8", LPThe CD and 12" versions of this release include all material from the 1998 demo. Sawblade Released: 1999 Label: Hydra Head (HH666-41.5) Formats: CD-R, LPTour-only limited edition release; 200 handmade CD-Rs and 250 copies of the vinyl edition were pressed. 600 vinyl editions were later pressed as part of the Shades of the Swarm box set. SGNL›05 Released: March 6, 2001 Label: Neurot (NR012) Formats: CD, LPThis release has been described by Aaron Turner as an "extension" of Celestial.
Collaborative TitleRelease detailsNotes In the Fishtank 14 (with Aereogramme) Released: September 25, 2006 Label: Konkurrent (Fish 14) Formats: CD, LPPart of the "In the Fishtank" series, this release is a collaboration with Scottish band Aereogramme.
Splits TitleRelease detailsNotes Isis / Pig Destroyer Released: July 2000 Label: Relapse (RR-040) Format: 7" vinylIsis contributed a cover version of the title track from Godfleshes Streetcleaner which was previously released on the Sawblade EP. Melvins / Isis Released: July 13, 2010 Label: Hydra Head (HH666-214) Format: LPIsis contributed two songs that were recorded during the Wavering Radiant sessions.
Remixes TitleRelease detailsNotes Oceanic Remixes Volume I Released: April 11, 2004 Label: Robotic Empire (Robo 037) Format: LPConsists of remixes of tracks from Oceanic, contributed to by a variety of artists. Later compiled and released as a 2×CD (and later 2×LP) titled Oceanic Remixes/Reinterpretations. Also released as a 4×LP box set comprising all four volumes.Oceanic Remixes at DiscogsOceanic remixes box set Oceanic Remixes Volume II Released: July 13, 2004 Label: Robotic Empire (Robo 038) Format: LP Oceanic Remixes Volume III Released: August 24, 2004 Label: Robotic Empire (Robo 039) Format: LP Oceanic Remixes Volume IV Released: November 23, 2004 Label: Robotic Empire (Robo 040) Format: LP
Compilations / box sets TitleRelease detailsTypeNotes Oceanic Remixes/Reinterpretations Released: 2004 Labels: Hydra Head (HH666-83) and Robotic Empire (Robo 037–040) Formats: 2×CD, 2×LP, 4×LPRemix album, Compilation, Box setConsists of remixes of tracks from Oceanic, contributed to by a variety of artists. Originally released as a series of four 12" LPs on Robotic Empire. Shades of the SwarmReleased: February 22, 2008 Labels: Robotic Empire (Robo 074) and Conspiracy (CORE058) Format: 12×LPBox setLP box set of all of Isis' full-length albums and EPs up to and including In the Absence of Truth, produced in commemoration of the band's 10-year anniversary. Limited to 600. Live I-VI Released: March 21, 2012 Label: Daymare (DYMC-150) Format: 6×CD Live album, Box set CD box set consisting of Live I, Live II, Live III, Live IV, Live V, and Live VI. Limited to 300. Temporal Released: November 6, 2012 Label: Ipecac (IPC-140) Formats: 2×CD, 3×LP + DVD Compilation Contains demos, remixes, covers, an acoustic track, and a DVD featuring all official music videos.
Singles TitleRelease detailsAlbum "Holy Tears" Released: February 5, 2008 Label: Ipecac (IPC-095) Formats: CD, LPIn the Absence of Truth (2006) "Not in Rivers, But in Drops" Released: October 14, 2008 Label: Ipecac (IPC-099) Format: CD
Videography Music videos Title Director Album "In Fiction" Josh Graham Panopticon (2004) "Holy Tears" Dominic HailstoneIn the Absence of Truth (2006)"Not in Rivers, But in Drops" Sera Timms"20 Minutes / 40 Years"Matt SantoroWavering Radiant (2009) "Pliable Foe" Kenneth Thomas Melvins / Isis (2010)
DVD TitleRelease detailsNotes Clearing the Eye Released: September 26, 2006 Label: Ipecac (IPC-080) Format: DVDFeatures live videos (including an entire live performance), the "In Fiction" music video, photo galleries, a complete discography, lyrics for all songs featured, and a 20-page booklet.
Other appearances SongYearCompilationLabelNotes "Boris" 2005We Reach: The Music of the Melvins Fractured Transmitter (FTRC004) Cover of a Melvins song; collaboration with Agoraphobic Nosebleed.
See also Hydra Head Records discography Ipecac Recordings discography
References
General
External links Isis discography at Discogs Isis discography at MusicBrainz