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Full Review | User Ratings (8) |
| Summary: A brief glimpse into what the future of post-metal could be. |
12 of 13 thought this review was well written
Isthmus are a strange beast. Take one listen to “On Curl Of Sand” and
you’ll realise that these guys aren’t your usual post-metal act, sure,
some of the ideas might seem familiar to other bands, but their
execution is anything but. I mean, take for example the gorgeous guitar
runs and confusing time signatures that are used on many of the tracks
for an example on how these guys like to surprise and confuse you at
every turn. “Land Bridge” is a very technical and virtuoso effort from
the start, and it is this unrelenting tide of odd patterns and funky
riffs that differentiates the band from hundreds of other post-metal
groups who end up sounding the same as each other. Despite all of this
though, “Land Bridge” is still an album that can be enjoyed by any sort
of Post-metal fan, thanks to the sheer professionalism and excellent
song writing skills the band have to offer, it’s not your usual
Post-metal, no, it’s something completely different, but all those Isis
and Neurosis fans should still eat this up, it’s too damn good to
dislike.
Early on and at the heart of this album is the three piece “Perihelion”
(try saying that after having a few), only part II features any vocals,
with part I and III being short but stunning instrumentals. Placed
early in the album, the “Perihelion” saga showcases the best of
Isthmus’s talents early on, with fantastic arpeggios and technical
riffs from the guitarists coming hard and fast at every turn. While
part II slows down the trilogy slightly with the guitars slowing down
to let the almost robotic screamed vocals have a chance to keep up, the
two instrumentals do fantastic in keeping a fast exhilarating pace,
something unusual for this kind of genre. Trust me, when the harmonized
riffs hit you at a minute in on part III, you won’t know what day it
is, they’re so intense it’s unreal, but still of course very melodic
and atmospheric, keeping the trademarks of the genre just in tact when
you think that Isthmus might just be playing something else but
Post-metal.
After that trilogy, you come to realise that it is this constant
contrast between typical Post-metal atmosphere and style with the
technical and exciting playing of the band that makes this album so
fascinating. While you will still get ambient build ups (beginning of
“Perihelion II”, for example) they are not as frequently used as other,
more typical Post-metal acts, and that makes them all the more special.
The band don’t brood about unnecessarily in an effort to create
atmosphere, it’s already just there, they don’t take their time to try
and make the aggressive moments more dramatic, they don’t need to be.
Although very understated, Isthmus have a unique grasp on how to create
great songs. They know where vocals are appropriate (for they are very
sparse in the album), they know when to throw in a highly technical
virtuoso moment, they know when to slow down for just a moment. All in
all, “Land Bridge” comes off as an effort from a band that are simply
beyond their age and time, the production is practically perfect, there
is not a note out of place; “Land Bridge” is so excellently focused and
intent upon it’s purpose that it comes off all the more surprising that
they’ve still managed to sound so unique and progressive from the start.
“Land Bridge” is not a vocally driven album at all, which helps make
the use of ethereal singing and the mysterious undecipherable screaming
all the more effective at building the claustrophobic atmosphere. The
album is much more dependant on its guitars and bass than anything
else, with the aforementioned technicality of the album playing a key
role in everything that happens, the best examples of this are the
instrumentals in the album. All five of them. Isthmus actually only
have vocals on half of their tracks on “Land Bridge”, and even on the
ones that do, they sometimes only make brief appearances. This self
assured belief in their own ability that they don’t need to overuse the
vocals makes Isthmus’s atmosphere all the more enriching, as you are
free to drown in the splendor of it all without needing to pay
attention to the vocals. It’s a unique approach that might turn some
off (even when they come in, the vocals aren’t exactly typical) but for
those that can enjoy it for what it is will find it all the more
fascinating.
Isthmus don’t like to overstate themselves, none of the songs stray
long over six minutes, and furthermore none of them waste time with
pretentious build up moments or over-extended passages. For the last
ten minutes of the album, there are no vocals at all; with the last
song being an untitled ambient piece and the one before it being
another spellbinding instrumental. In “Land Bridge”, Isthmus have
created one of the most technical and atmospheric Post-metal albums of
the year, this is an album that almost feels ahead of it’s time, like a
brief glimpse into what the future of Post-metal could be. Or, in other
terms, it’s an evolution of Post-metal that was never really expected;
a perfect and ironic jolt of life for a genre that prides itself on
being unique in the first place. For anyone who’s looking for something
completely different from the rest your typical post-metal, you can’t
go wrong with Isthmus.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | |
Album Rating: 4.5
Not sure what I think about this review, check this out though.
Digging: Dirty Three - Horse Stories | | | Album Rating: 4.5
this sounds really really good.
now only if their name and album name weren't common geography terms, then I could find this =[
Digging: My America is Watching Tigers Die - Stone Age | | | Album Rating: 4.5
lol, I will up this if none of yous can find a link, or at least, try, my connection ain't the best at the moment.
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Wonder who negged this...this is a good review.
Made me want to check this out
Digging: Eminem - The Slim Shady LP | | |
I listened to a few songs off their Myspace, and I like their sound. It's been a pretty sick year for post metal and the like.
Digging: Majority Rule - Emergency Numbers | | |
I
got negged on my last review too. The metal prejudice is through the
roof. Good review but I don't know how I feel albout post metal
anymore. It seems to be overblown just like progressive metal.
Digging: Innerpartysystem - Innerpartysystem | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Heh, I thought you were loving Prog Metal recently Balls?
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A
little too much tbh. Ikuinen Kaamos, Burst, Janvs, Bilocate, Enslaved,
Opeth, Distorted, Alchemist. You see what I mean, but I suppose you
can't have too much of a good thing.
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This sounds like it could be good. I don't generally appreciate much post-metal though. The review was good too.
Digging: Void Of Silence - Human Antithesis | | |
Their myspace tracks were good.
Digging: Meneguar - Strangers in Our House | | |
Arpeggios
and post metal? I seriously almost had a heart attack reading this.
Sounds like my dream band hahahaha. Great review Crimson, glad to see
you back to your reviewing again. This sounds AWESOME! Will post back
once I've given this a sample or two.
Digging: Colosseum [Fin] - Chapter I: Delirium | | |
OHH BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Quote:
Damn! I'm at work and can't check this out until I get home. Quote:
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Arpeggios and post metal? I seriously almost had a heart attack reading this.
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Took the words right out of my mouth!
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The three songs on their myspace page grabbed me so fast. Simply Wowed at the moment.
The best part about their myspace songs is that they transition with the album, just like how Crimson described.
This Message Edited On 10.16.08
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Just listened to their myspace tracks. WOW! sweet find Crimson.
Digging: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yet again, I reiterate, their band name/album name sucks. I can't find this =[.
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Quote:
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Yet again, I reiterate, their band name/album name sucks. I can't find this =[.
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Well, are you trying to "borrow" it off the internet, buy it, or just
hear it? I ask because I found it easily at Amazon (out of stock) and
CD Baby (In stock). Also, their Myspace page was easy to find too. So,
are you looking to get this for free and complaining because it's not
easy enough to do  ?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I'm a listen before I buy type of person, excuse me for not wanting to blow money on a **** heap of bad.
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ha ha. Lay off the sugar 
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Bands usually have a myspace for a reason snackary. Try harder broseph.
This Message Edited On 10.16.08
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