ISIS The Red Sea (10 Years Ltd) - 12" vinyl single

ISIS The Red Sea (10 Years Ltd) - 2009 U.S. vinyl 12" anniversary reissue of debut 1999 recording

Format: Vinyl
Condition: New  
Year of Release: 2009
Cat. No.: SCDN145
Label: Second Nature

Isis' first official release, this 1999 EP shows off a few different facets of the band's hardcore/doom/sludge/metal style, which at this stage was already pretty impressive despite not yet having fully developed to the point it would on subsequent efforts.

From the hateful screaming and dense guitar/bass sludge of "Charmicarmicarmicat Shines to Earth" to the pummeling riffs and downshifting grooves of "The Minus Times" and on through the discordant guitars and more stretched-out song structure of "Red Sea," the band's influences (some of which are plainly acknowledged in the liner notes) show through pretty clearly: the Melvins, Earth, Bastard Noise, Eyehategod, Soilent Green, Neurosis, Coalesce, etc.

That it is to say, Isis is drawing on a who's who list of underground heavy-music gurus, and if this EP feels a little bit more like them "doing their homework" than a later album like 'Celestial' does, it still outshines the work of many of their peers.

 ~ Review by William York, All Music Guide

TRACK LISTING:

Charmicarmicarmicat Shines To Earth 2:23 
The Minus Times 5:26 
Red Sea 7:20 
1998 Demo - (No Word Version)  
Smiles And Handshakes 6:02 
Catalyst 4:26 
Ochre 4:41 
Lines Across Eyes 5:47