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ISIS
Temporal

Ipecac (2012)
Rating: 8/10

Isis was one of those bands that straddled the line between art and devastation, much like The Melvins, Godflesh and Neurosis, yet strangely not like them at all.

For more than a decade the American combo brought their heavy themes and fluid sounds to the masses, becoming one of the most respected bands in heavy music and influencing countless number of bands that are just now coming into their own (I’m looking at you Baroness). Temporal is the band’s latest offering following their 2010 break-up.

This retrospective compilation features a stirring collection of demos, covers and remixes from the band’s career and plays like a dictionary of heavy, artistic music. Just to give you the an idea of what we are talking about here, the Thomas Dimuzio remix of ‘Holy Tears’ clocks in at over 12 minutes during which the band slowly comes into sight, rides one of the best guitar riffs ever, and gets in touch with their death metal side, before allowing the fuzzbox to take / let the song down peacefully.

The alternate demo of ‘Ghost Key’ is another completely mesmerizing moment that just makes you want to sit back and soak it all in. There is so much happening, yet it sounds so simplistic and intimate.

Elsewhere, the band goes for the throat with a cover of Godflesh’s ‘Streetcleaner’ (the original version featured on the 1989 album of the same name) recorded early on in their career. ‘Way Through Woven Branches’ (released originally in 2010 on a split with The Melvins) goes the complete opposite direction, offering a spectacular melody that crescendos in an overly aggressive way bringing everything together in the most intense way imaginable. The acoustic version of ‘20 Minutes/40 Years’ is a highlight as well with its gentle, yet groove-laden flow. While I’ve never thought of Isis in an acoustic way, this definitely makes me wonder about how cool it would be to have an Isis acoustic album.

The album also includes a DVD of the official music videos for ‘In Fiction’, ‘Holy Tears, ‘Not In Rivers, But in Drops’, ‘20 Minutes/40 Years’ and ‘The Pliable Foe’, the latter of which was previously unreleased.

This is an excellent presentation of extra bits and cool asides from Isis’ prolific career as underground juggernauts. It is likely not the ideal place to start for new fans, but the band’s longtime comrades will love what they hear on Temporal. The only (minor) complaint I have is the production on the demo versions. Even though they are demos, the sound just seems off enough to not capture the band in quite the light you should hear them in for the first time.

Mark Fisher

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