For those not aware, ISIS (they prefer all-caps) play a hard-to-categorize brand of hard rock incorporating elements of doom-metal, progressive rock, trance-y song structures, and lots of yelling. They do cool things like open for Tool and run a big-time independent label, HydraHead Industries, that most bands would kill to get with. They're back in Austin for a near-sold-out show at Emo's. more ›

Jesu Conqueror (Hydra Head) J.K. Broadrick's past with Napalm Death and Godflesh might have those anxious for Conqueror baffled -- the dense ambient fog and softly managed vocal work might come as a shock. That being said, the album is undeniably heavy, chugging, distorted and dark. The marriage between the agonizingly paced guitars and the sheer depth of their tone in "Bright Eyes" can overpower the sensitively harmonized vocals and synths. As bands like... more ›