Melvins / Isis | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | July 13, 2010 | |||
Genre | Sludge metal, alternative metal, post-metal, doom metal | |||
Length | 24:47 | |||
Label | Hydra Head Records (12") (HH666-214) | |||
Isis chronology | ||||
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Melvins chronology | ||||
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Reverse side | ||||
The Melvins and Isis released a split EP on Hydra Head Records in 2010, with each band contributing two tracks. Isis' "Way Through Woven Branches" had previously only been available as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of their last full-length, Wavering Radiant, whilst "Pliable Foe" was exclusive to this release. [1] Both tracks were recorded during the Wavering Radiant sessions. [1] Meanwhile, the Melvins tracks are reworked from their release The Bride Screamed Murder , described as displaying the "dadaist/trickster tendencies of the band which has frustrated and delighted fans in equal measure since (very nearly) the beginning of their existence". [1] The album was released July 13, 2010 on CD format, [2] [3] with vinyl copies available a week earlier from Vacation Vinyl in Los Angeles. [4]
Pitchfork's Jess Harvell was unimpressed by Isis′ contribution to the split, stating that “Isis seem to be building to something on these songs, but the climaxes are so restrained you can almost miss them if you're not paying close enough attention [...] I kept hoping Isis would finally let loose, offer a little chaos. After all, the best part of Mogwai's "Like Herod" isn't the clockwork precision; it's the freak out.” [5] As for the Melvins side, she deemed it “more of the same, but here I don't mean that in a disparaging way at all”, and found that “the grooves, especially on "I'll Finish You Off", have the same punchy dynamics the Isis tunes lack.” [5]
Isis frontman and owner of Hydra Head Records, Aaron Turner, documented the design process of the album art on his personal blog. [4] [6] [7] [8]
It was released after Isis had announced their imminent dissolution, and currently stands as their last record. However, two posthumous compilations are lined up for Isis, [9] which would make this their third-final output. Melvins subsequently supported Isis for several dates on their farewell tour. [3]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Decibel | 8/10 [10] |
Pitchfork | 6.0/10 [5] |
No. | Title | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Pig House (Alt. Version)" | Melvins | 5:53 |
2. | "I'll Finish You Off (Alt. Version)" | Melvins | 4:44 |
No. | Title | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Way Through Woven Branches" | Isis | 6:27 |
2. | "The Pliable Foe" | Isis | 7:43 |
Isis was an American post-metal band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1997. The band borrowed from and helped to evolve the post-metal sound pioneered by bands such as Neurosis and Godflesh, characterized by lengthy songs focusing on repetition and evolution of structure. Isis's last studio album, Wavering Radiant, was released on May 5, 2009. Isis disbanded in June 2010, just before the release of a split EP with the Melvins. In 2018, the group reformed as Celestial for a one-off show to pay tribute to Caleb Scofield.
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label that specializes in extreme metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993. It has another imprint, Hydra Head Noise Industries, which specializes in experimental and noise music.
Oceanic is the second full-length album by American post-metal band ISIS, released on September 16, 2002, by Ipecac Recordings. On November 4, 2014, a remastered edition was released via Hydrahead/Ipecac Recordings.
Panopticon is the third full-length album by Los Angeles, California based post-metal band ISIS, released by Ipecac Recordings in 2004. The album's title is derived from philosopher Jeremy Bentham's panopticon prison ideal and philosopher/historian Michel Foucault's later allegorical appropriation of the concept. The liner notes also include quotes from technology writer Howard Rheingold and futurist Alex Steffen; as a concept album, Panopticon's focus is on the proliferation of surveillance technologies throughout modern society and the government's role in that spread.
Celestial is the debut album by American post-metal band Isis, released in 2000 by Escape Artist and Hydra Head Records. It is their third solo release and first full length.
Oceanic: Remixes & Reinterpretations is a 2004 compilation of remixes by various artists of songs from Isis' 2002 album Oceanic. The album was initially released across a series of four 12" vinyl EPs earlier in 2004; Robotic Empire, the label in control of those original vinyl releases, made available a compilation of all four vinyl EPs in one set on July 19, 2006.
The Sawblade EP is a handmade CD-R made by Isis for their tour with Neurosis and Candiria, limited to 200 copies. It was sold at these shows at a limit of 15 per night, and the leftover copies were given to friends of the band as a year-end "thank you" gift. The vinyl run of this release was limited to 250 copies. As such, Aaron Turner doesn't consider this an 'official' Isis release, describing it as “more like a special artifact for us and the few converts we had at the time”.
This is a complete discography of Hydra Head Records releases. Hydra Head Records is an independent record company based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 1993 by Aaron Turner. It has two imprints, Hydra Head Noise Industries, which specialises in experimental and noise music, and another entitled Tortuga Recordings.
Aaron Turner is an American musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal bands SUMAC and Isis, while also participating in several other bands and projects such as Old Man Gloom, Lotus Eaters and Split Cranium, a collaboration with Jussi Lehtisalo of Finnish band Circle who toured with Isis in 2009.
Isis was an American post-metal band, active from 1997 active until their disbandment in 2010. They released five full-length albums, five solo extended plays (EPs), seven live albums, two singles and have collaborated with other artists on numerous other projects.
Meanderthal is the second full-length studio album by American heavy metal band Torche. It was released on April 8, 2008.
Jeff Caxide is an American bassist, best known for his time with post-metal band Isis, of which he was a founding member and present until its dissolution in 2010. He was also a founding member of Red Sparowes, but left after the release of their first full-length. He also contributed to side-project Spylacopa. Prior to his time in Isis, he was a touring member of the Boston metalcore band 454 Big Block. He also helped found Connecticut-based metalcore band Cable, for whom he played bass. His stay with the band as a musician was brief, but he did return in order to produce 1999's Gutter Queen.
Aaron Harris is an American musician and composer, best known for his career with Los Angeles-based post-metal band Isis. He was with the band from its inception in 1997 to its dissolution in 2010. Since Isis' demise, Harris has become increasingly involved in his career as a composer and producer. His composing work has appeared in projects for A24, Warner Bros., Universal, Disney, Lionsgate, Netflix, NBC, Red Bull and Samsung, among others. As a producer Harris has also worked on records for Palms, Puscifer, Team Sleep, Pelican, Zozobra, Spotlights, Huey, Jakob, The Jezabels and more.
Michael Gallagher is an American guitarist, best known for his work with post-metal band Isis. He joined them in 1999 for their debut LP Celestial, having previously been a member of Cast Iron Hike. He has an ambient project known as MGR ; under this moniker he has released two albums and scored one film.
Wavering Radiant is the fifth and final full-length album by American post-metal group Isis, released by Ipecac Recordings in 2009 and produced by Joe Barresi. The band split just over a year after its release. The album continues Isis' history of lengthy songwriting, yet presents a slight departure from the soft-loud dynamics and post-metal aesthetic which characterized previous releases.
Envy / Jesu is a split album between Japanese hardcore band Envy and Justin Broadrick's Jesu. It was originally released in Japan by Daymare in 2008. Conspiracy Records released a 12" vinyl version, limited to 2,000 copies in white, transparent blue, gold and silver.
Chapter Ahead Being Fake is a split album featuring songs from Japanese band Boris and American band Torche. The album was released on August 19, 2009 in Japan through Daymare Records on CD, the same day Boris's split album with 9dw, Golden Dance Classics, was released. This is the first release from Torche as a three-piece band after parting ways with second guitarist Juan Montoya in 2008. A video for Torche's "King Beef" was released on January 5, 2010.
Songs for Singles is an EP by the American rock band Torche. The album was released on September 21, 2010 through Hydra Head Records. It is the first Torche album, and second release after the split single Chapter Ahead Being Fake, to not feature guitarist Juan Montoya.
Worship Is the Cleansing of the Imagination is a split album between experimental musicians Dominic Fernow under the pseudonym Prurient and Justin Broadrick under the pseudonym JK Flesh. Released on vinyl on December 11, 2012, Worship Is the Cleansing of the Imagination was the final release of new material by Hydra Head Records, the label founded by former Isis member Aaron Turner.
Faith Coloccia is an American artist and musician. She is most known as being the founding member and primary songwriter for the post-rock band Mamiffer. Coloccia has also been a member of Everlovely Lightningheart, Pyramids, House of Low Culture and Split Cranium. In 2009, she co-founded the independent record label SIGE Records with her husband Aaron Turner.