To continue the trend we started this iteration of Audiosurf Song Of The Week, we present to you a challenge. In the same vein as Cult Of Luna, Isis makes dynamic audio landscapes that translates beautifully in Audiosurf. If you have the patients. And really enjoy the music.

That is certainly true for everything, but this kind of music will either bore you, or transcend you. And when you hit that slope to the song’s crescendo in Audiosurf, Isis‘ “Garden Of Light” can transcend the most skeptic of listener. The follow-up to 2004’s commercial and critical breakthrough album, Panopticon, 2006’s In The Absence Of Truth sees the band take an even more melodic and softer approach than ever before.

“Garden Of Light” is the pinnacle crescendo of the album, that leaves the listener in a state of melancholic happiness. Themes of hope are introduced, both lyrically and musically, that ends the album on a perfect note. Front man Aaron Turner also decides to introduce a new theme for an Isis album, something that both prevails its obstacles and succumbs to its own infancy.

Themes only grow stronger for each Isis release, and the music along with it. Panopticon was the perfected version of the “control tower” theme, being in its third iteration. With the introduction of a new musical and lyrical theme on In The Absence Of Truth, the album actually suffers because of it. Yet, how unestablished the sound may be, it may be the perfect continuation of the band’s artistic progression.

written by Jesper Sellerberg \\ tags: Aaron Turner, ALBUM, Audiosurf, Cult of Luna, Garden Of Light, In The Absence Of Truth, Isis, Music, Panopticon, Song, Song Of The Week

This week we surf the waves of yet another Swedish rock act; Khoma, and the song “Medea“, from 2006’s The Second Wave. Other recommendations from the same album are “Stop Making Speeches”, “Through Walls” and “One of Us Must Hang”.

Khoma is the mellower, alternative metal oriented outfit of Cult of Luna mastermind Johannes Persson, who together with Jan Jämte (vocals) and fellow Cult of Luna bassist Fredrik Kihlberg (guitars, piano) started Khoma to do something more, mainstream, if you will.

Johannes Persson is also the Swedish equivalent to Canada’s Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy, Download, etc), in that he is a workaholic. Managing two bands at the same time, however, is what keeps the creative juices flowing, according Persson himself.

In 2003, Khoma’s (then Koma) debut album caught the music industry with storm, only one year after Cult of Luna’s second album, and one year ahead of Cult of Luna’s third, conceptual magnum opus; Salvation. In 2006, the follow-up to Khoma’s debut was released, with great critical acclaim, as well as the fourth, and most successful Culf of Luna album to date; Somewhere Along The Highway. Johannes Persson was the musical, lyrical and creative force behind each and everyone of these releases.

Khoma is currently recording their third studio album, and just this past week Cult of Luna released their fifth album, Eternal Kingdom. Check them out, and if you like it please support the artists. Always try before you buy. Just like it should be with games… But that’s another story for another post.

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written by Jesper Sellerberg \\ tags: Audiosurf, Cult of Luna, Features, Fredrik Kihlberg, Jan Jämte, Johannes Persson, Khoma, Koma, Medea, Metal, Second Wave, Sweden