Isis Bio

ISIS was formed in the fall of 1997 by guitarist/vocalist Aaron Turner (ex-Unionsuit), bassist Jeff Caxide (ex-Cable) and drummer Aaron Harris (Loga), with the addition of Chris Mereschuk on electronics and vocals. The quartet, brought together by friendship and a mutual desire to create a level of extremity eclipsing the rank-and-file heavy sounds prevalent around them, immediately began to lay the foundation of their mammoth sound structures.



After a few short months of intense rehearsal, the band began playing out in the spring of '98. Shortly thereafter, ISIS entered Salad Days Studios to record their self-titled (and only) demo. Their first recording session provided a raw indoctrination to the suffocating intensity that would soon become their trademark.



Devastating performances at Really Loud Music Festival and Paperweight Hardcore Festival, as well as powerful showings in New England with the likes of Converge, Soilent Green, Eyehategod and the Dillinger Escape Plan, solidified their reputation as a must see live band and rapidly evolving musical force. An East Coast tour with Cable followed, and on the return home ISIS holed up in God City Studio to commence work on their debut CDEP.



Mosquito Control captures the fury of their live show and raises the intensity level of their demo tenfold. Punishing riffs, thunderous low-end, high-impact percussion and caustic vocal spite coalesce into a dark, brooding collection of staggering proportion. From the delicate intro of 'Poison Eggs' to the heaving collapse of 'Relocation Swarm', Mosquito Control destroys genre lines and begins redefining preconceived notions of 'heavy'.



Upon the completion of Mosquito Control, the band recruited former Cast Iron Hike guitarist Mike Gallagher and Mereschuk was replaced with noise/electronic technician and vocal demon Jay Randall (Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Japanese Torture Comedy Hour). The new incarnation was together scarcely a month before steamrolling their way through two short tours, one in the North East with Converge and Cavity, the other in Quebec with Ire and Anodyne.



Winter '98/'99 sees ISIS preparing for the release of a new mini-CD (on Second Nature) as well as a split 7" with Cavity (on Hydra Head) and a compilation appearance on the infamous Black Sabbath tribute, In These Black Days. Immediate plans include more regional touring and writing for a full-length release.



Jay Randall's involvement with Isis has been captured only on the Red Sea Ep released by Second Nature. He has left to pursue other interests. His replacement Cliff Meyer has been run throught the mill on the Cave In / ISIS Summer '99 Tour. ISIS has returned home to begin writing material for their upcoming full length, tentatively titled Celestial.