2. ISIS - Grinning Mouths ISIS continues to eek closer to something resembling mainstream success, and more power to them, but the common wisdom among those-who-know is that the band’s high point—and certainly its most influential period—was in the years between 2001 and 2004. “Grinning Mouths” is the final song of the final recording of that era, and few albums end on such a note of thunderous perfection. Spindly melodies become an overarching intellectual theme, bottoming out into cavernous power-riffing and Aaron Turner’s indomitable roar. Lots of bytes continue to be wasted debating the merits of Turner’s singing but here, in the song’s final movement, it’s perfect, bringing the marriage of downtuned throb and layered melody to a cerebral conclusion that impassively regards at the audience from above. (Lucas Kane)