Review Summary: If this record proves anything, it's that Isis are a fully-functioning organism
To me, the last Isis record In the Absence of Truth
(2006) represented the pinnacle of everything that the post/sludge/progressive/whatever-metal band were capable of at the time of its release. Allmusic.com writer John Serba said of the band's song “Weight”, “[it] doesn't necessarily move as much as it evolves toward its goal”, and while he was only describing a single song in the band's catalogue, I felt as if the description applied to the artistic direction of the band as a whole. I started listening to the band sometime in between Oceanic
(2002) and Panopticon
(2004) and in 2006 I felt about In the Absence of Truth
the same way that I felt about Panopticon
on its release; that it represented the next step in the direction of the goal that Isis were evolving towards. And not only that, it was just a better record. The songs were more structurally complex than ever before, the tones and textures far more interesting and sophisticated, the album flowed better and the lyrics were conceptually engaging (if less immediate) and at least as good as anything else they'd done before.
Apparently no one agreed.
Of course I'm exaggerating, but opinions on In the Absence of Truth
from critics and fans alike were certainly mixed. The major complaint about the record seemed to be that for various reasons, it was boring; a complaint I honestly don't know how to respond to. Aside from the above praises about the record itself, my understanding of Isis was of them as (if not an entity) a democratic and evolving organism; each member unique and indispensable, absolutely crucial to both the process and the product. Which isn't to say that disliking newer Isis material is rooted in ignorance, just that each record is merely one part of a process and understanding that provides a richer experience of the band.
continues in the direction that Isis have been travelling since their inception, with an increasing prominence of melody and a greater focus on placid sections to balance out their signature crushing heaviness. The dynamic and tonal embellishments on themes that brought songs like “Dulcinea” and “Firdous E Bareen” to epic conclusions have been replaced with a less predictable approach to songwriting. Crushingly heavy parts drop in and out without warning and songs seem not to travel towards climaxes as to shift between ideas suddenly or subtly where appropriate. Sonically, the record also reproduces the watery feel best exemplified on In the Absence of Truth
, which was due to the increased use of modulation effects, particularly with bassist Jeff Caxide. While In the Absence of Truth
saw Caxide using modulation effects as a means to creating a unique timbre for particular moments in songs like “Not In Rivers But In Drops” or “1000 Shards”, he uses them much more readily on Wavering Radiant. In fact, the majority of the clean sections in every one of the album's seven tracks feature his singular, heavily modulated tone, which is key in giving the album its distinctive feel.
Perhaps one of the reasons why Isis are such an effective band in both a purely musical sense and a conceptual one is that the way the instruments sound is as crucial as the notes they are playing. Caxide's tone is a perfect example, but the same principle applies for each and every member. Waving Radiant
has each musician expanding his palette considerably. Multi-instrumentalist Bryant Clifford Meyer does this most impressively with his keyboard parts, making use of instruments such as the Fender Rhodes (electric piano) and vintage Hammond organs as well as his usual synthesisers. Rather than giving the record a 70s vibe as might be expected, Meyer's instrumentation lends itself to the dark sense of mystery that was especially present on In the Absence of Truth
(see “Firdous E Bareen”). Likewise with drummer Aaron Harris. One of the biggest complaints about the band's last record was the tom-heavy nature of the drumming, which some felt was redundant. Harris appears to have responded accordingly by varying his beats far more; shifting between simple and complex patterns at the drop of a hat with usual tightness and sheer power.
The only instrument that offers little to distinguish itself from previous releases is the voice. Aaron Turner has never been the most technically impressive vocalist, but the sheer intensity of his dry, raspy growl is always able to make up for that. Wavering Radiant
's increased emphasis on melody has also increased the presence of his clean vocals and perhaps it's just the production, but they sound more powerful and in-sync with the music than ever before. That said, Isis as a collective sound more together than they ever have. Riffs, patterns and melodies seem more intertwined and the interplay between the guitarists and Caxide's bass counter-melodies is more natural and intricate than ever before. It's not that they sound loose, just that the parts gel together rather than feeling like a construct of individual ideas. The basis of this seems to be Harris' increased presence; though the guitars, bass and keyboards play off each other considerably, it all comes back to the fact that everyone is playing off Harris and following his lead dynamically. His sense of moment is perfect; knowing exactly when and where to jump in or cut back, and just how much.
The scene that Isis have been instrumental in building is in an interesting place. With the most prominent groups in the genre (Rosetta, Jesu, Pelican, etc) carving out their own niches, it's unlikely that Wavering Radiant
will ever be as influential a record as Oceanic
. Nonetheless, it's an important one for the genre and more significantly, it's an important one for Isis. With five incredible albums under their belt, the knowledge that they've been crucial in establishing an extremely prominent musical trend and no sign of slowing down or being unfaithful to their identity as a band, Isis can truly be considered one of the best and most important groups of the 2000s. Certainly within the metal genre, it's difficult to think of a group more consistent and influential.
To attempt to rank Wavering Radiant
within the Isis discography is to miss this point. Fans of earlier releases will likely be disappointed but if this record proves anything, it's that Isis are a fully-functioning organism, slowly moving towards something not yet known by the listener and perhaps not even the band themselves.